Arsenal and Manchester City are among a few clubs that are in the running to nab Robert Navarro away from La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Spanish publication Sport have a potentially dire update for Barcelona fans. Their report iterates that the Catalans could very well be on course to lose out on Robert Navarro, one of their up-and-coming gems. Arsenal, Manchester City, AS Monaco and Juventus are the clubs touted to be in pursuit of the wonderkid.
The earlier report had already established the burgeoning reputation of Robert Navarro and the growing interest in the 15-year-old from various top clubs in Europe, chief among them being Borussia Dortmund, who have already snatched Sergio Gomez away from Barcelona.
While Barcelona had attempted to open talks with the player and his representatives, Navarro was ineligible to sign a professional deal before he turned 16, which he will turn on April 12. Now, the ball will be in the 15-year-old’s court, who will decide whether to renew his deal at Barcelona or take up an offer from one of the many interested clubs.
Arsenal and Manchester City have now emerged as two of the major clubs in pursuit of Robert Navarro, with Juventus and AS Monaco also in the running.
Manchester City are best placed to sign one of Barcelona’s academy stars, Robert Navarro (15), who turns 16 on April 12 and has received a ‘tempting’ offer from City.
The attacking midfielder wants to hear Barcelona’s plans for him before making a decision. [SPORT] pic.twitter.com/DRZc48M787
— City Watch (@City_Watch) April 2, 2018
With Navarro not having a release clause, the clubs ideally want to sign the player before he turns 16, which would enable them to land the player for just formation rights – a sort of compensation fee. Barcelona will try all they can to retain Navarro. But, the youngster wants to know the club’s plans and potentially a pathway to the first-team in the future before committing to a new deal at the club.
Manchester City are best placed to land the 15-year-old. The Citizens have been following the player for quite some time and have submitted an economically assuring offer to the youngster.
Arsenal, too, would be able to offer a package that would include a faster track into the first-team, something that is likely to entice Robert Navarro more than the economical part of the offer.
Indeed, Navarro is justified in his fear of a lack of pathway into the first-team setup from the youth squads – something that was one of the cornerstones of Barcelona’s success. The club has recently spent lavishly on players instead of bringing through the youth, which has forced the gems of La Masia to ponder over their future at the club.
Robert Navarro (#10 @Robert8Navarro – born 12.04.2002) at the #MIC18. MVP of the tournament. Here are highlights of his two games vs Shakhtar and the final against Espanyol. One of the best players in the academy. #FCBMasia pic.twitter.com/u3hTSNWJlz
— ■neurophate (@neurophate_) April 2, 2018
Barcelona are in very real danger of losing out on the future years of Robert Navarro, a player who has already shown that he is two steps above the other players in his age group. Arsenal, Manchester City or some other club, the teenager looks primed for an exit.
