Barcelona and Real Madrid are reportedly both interested in making a move for Villarreal youngster Marc Vidal in the upcoming transfer window.
According to a report from Spanish publication Sport, La Liga heavyweights and arch-rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid could be set to battle it out for the signing of young Villarreal goalkeeper Marc Vidal in the summer transfer window.
Vidal, 21, is a product of the Villarreal youth academy. Having come through the ranks with the Yellow Submarine, the shot-stopper earned promotion to the club’s B team this season, for whom he has gone on to make seven appearances, keeping three clean sheets in the process. He is, however, yet to get a taste of senior football.
Vidal, though, could be on his way out of El Madrigal this summer as his contract with Villarreal runs out at the end of the ongoing campaign. This has alerted a host of teams across Spain, with Barcelona and Real Madrid being at the forefront of the interest in the 21-year-old custodian.
Barcelona see the 21-year-old Vidal as someone who can bolster their B team for next term, given as there are set to be a few changes in the goalkeeping department. Indeed, the first-team’s backup goalkeeper Neto is on his way out at the end of the season, which will see Inaki Pena become the second-choice shot-stopper behind Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Barcelona are attentive to the 21-year-old goalkeeper Marc Vidal from Villarreal B. He would join Barça B, as they need a replacement for Iñaki Peña, who's set to replace Neto's role as Ter Stegen's backup. [sport] pic.twitter.com/8GnUTSg6Bl
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) April 27, 2021
This would also mean Arnau Tenas is in line to become the third-choice goalkeeper for the first-team, opening a space in the Barcelona B team that Vidal could fill in. However, they are set to face competition from bitter rivals Real Madrid, who are also keen on the services of the 21-year-old Vidal.
Much like Barcelona, Real Madrid would see the Villarreal shot-stopper move to their Castilla team, given as Thibaut Courtois and Andriy Lunin have the first-team goalkeeping slots locked in for the future. With Diego Altube operating as the third-choice for Zinedine Zidane’s side currently, there would be space for someone like Vidal in the Merengues’ reserve team.
Vidal is not the only Spanish youngster that Barcelona and Real Madrid are battling to sign, with Valencia’s Fabio Blanco a transfer target for both teams.
Besides, the arch-rivals are also contesting for CF Damm’s Victor Munoz Villanueva. As for Vidal, the 21-year-old is also being courted by Sevilla, Levante and Mallorca as well, apart from Barcelona and Real Madrid. It remains to be seen where the young Spanish goalkeeper ends up when his deal with Villarreal runs out.