Manchester United have reportedly agreed a deal to sign SL Benfica wonderkid Umaro Embalo, beating Real Madrid and other high-profile clubs in the process.
According to Daily Mail, Manchester United have snapped up another major scalp in terms of youth recruitment. The Red Devils have beaten Real Madrid and other top European clubs on their way to securing the signature of SL Benfica wonderkid Umaro Embalo.
Umaro Embalo is a 16-year-old attacker who primarily plays on the right side of attack, but is an equally lethal prospect as a centre forward. The Guinea-Bissau-born player has chosen to represent Portugal up until the Under-17s and is expected to continue playing for the Seleccao for the higher age levels as well.
Both Manchester United and Real Madrid have been interested in Embalo for quite a while now. The two clubs were linked to the player first in May and then again in October and the interest in the 16-year-old has only grown with each promising display by the winger.
Who is Umaro Embalo? Profile of our new youth signing…#MUFC pic.twitter.com/2GkJZm6i0U
— Full Time DEVILS (@FullTimeDEVILS) November 10, 2017
Boasting a prodigious record of 15 goals in 18 games for the Portugal Under-17s, the youngster is definitely one of the standout gems in the current batch at SL Benfica, who have always produced brilliant young attackers.
Manchester United’s interest in the player can be figured out from the fact that Jose Mourinho has publicly highlighted the club’s need for reinforcement on the wing. The Red Devils have been scouting the youngster for a while now, with Javier Ribalta, the chief scout at United, taking multiple trips to see the player in action.
And with a good performance against United in the UEFA Youth League, the player seemed to have locked down a place on the shortlist. Real Madrid on the other hand, are looking to build for the future and Embalo is one of the many prospects they have been targeting.
However, according to the report, United have been able to agree a deal with Benfica for Embalo, who has been compared to Angel Di Maria in his footballing style and demeanour.
The Red Devils will be elated to have been able to fend off competition from not just Real Madrid but Liverpool and Manchester City, both of whom were trailing the 16-year-old as well.