Barcelona and Real Madrid are reportedly among the clubs offered the chance to sign 17-year-old French wonderkid Mamadou Coulibaly.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Mamadou Coulibaly’s representatives are offering him to several European bigwigs, including Barcelona and Real Madrid. The 17-year-old French wonderkid is termed the ‘new Camavinga’ in his homeland after impressive performances at AS Monaco in age-group football.
Mamadou Coulibaly is one of the best young players in Europe, having taken age-group football by storm in his homeland. A part of the AS Monaco youth setup, the teenage prodigy has drawn widespread comparisons with Eduardo Camavinga, another French prospect who made an early impact in his homeland before joining Real Madrid.
The 17-year-old wonderkid is a technically gifted midfielder with an eye for a pass and the ability to reprise various roles in the middle of the park. And while he is yet to break into the AS Monaco first-team setup, Coulibaly has made enough of an impression to attract several high profile clubs across Europe. His representatives are also offering him to several teams, including Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Real Madrid could delve into the market for a midfielder in the summer transfer window, as Dani Ceballos and Isco are surplus to requirements at the Santiago Bernabeu. At the same time, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are approaching the final phases of their respective careers, thereby prompting Real Madrid to look for a young midfielder.
To that end, several midfielders, including Youri Tielemans, have been linked with Real Madrid, with Coulibaly also a solid long-term prospect. But Real Madrid might not take up the offer to sign Coulibaly, as they intend to back Camavinga to the hilt in the coming years. Such a stance could be a major boost for Barcelona.
While the Catalan giants have also been offered the chance to sign the 17-year-old French wonderkid, they have reportedly been closely monitoring his progress anyway. And with Sergio Busquets on the wrong side of 30, signing someone like Coulibaly could be a step in the right direction.
Apart from Real Madrid and Barcelona, AC Milan, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur have also been heavily linked with Coulibaly. Widespread reports have claimed that the teenage prodigy could soon move to AC Milan, leaving Barcelona, Manchester City and Tottenham with an uphill task to convince him over a summer move when he leaves AS Monaco.
