Manchester City have reportedly been linked with a move for Brazilian midfielder Matheus Franca, who has a €100 million release clause.
According to Brazilian journalist Julio Miguel Neto, Manchester City are keen on signing Matheus Franca at the end of this season. And the Premier League champions could look to loan the 18-year-old Brazilian attacker out immediately after securing his services.
Neto said, “For Manchester City, he is a player that pleases. They should do as they do with many jewels, they sign and loan to teams from the franchise, like Girona or other teams. They give minutes, experience, and then returns to Manchester City itself or to another major European football team making the sale.”
The 18-year-old is highly rated in South America and has a big future ahead of him. Manchester City are looking to secure his services as a long-term investment, and it remains to be seen whether they can pull off the transfer in the coming weeks.
Apparently, the Brazilian attacker has a release clause of around €100 million. But it remains to be seen whether the Premier League champions can agree on a reasonable fee for him. Franca has also courted interest from Real Madrid previously.
Pep Guardiola has a proven track record of improving young players, and he has shown that at clubs like Barcelona and Bayern Munich. He has played a key role in the development of young midfielder Phil Foden at Manchester City. And the Catalan tactician could be the ideal manager to unlock Franca’s potential if the youngster moves to England.
The opportunity to play for a Premier League club is an attractive proposition, and the Brazilian attacker could be tempted to join them. Furthermore, Manchester City’s inclination to loan him out after the transfer is completed would be ideal for the player’s development as well.
It remains to be seen whether the Premier League giants decide to loan him back to Flamengo for the foreseeable future. He could continue playing regular first-team football with the Brazilian club and then join up with the Premier League champions when he is ready to make his mark in English football.
Manchester City have put together a world-class squad since the takeover, but they have always shown a willingness to invest in talented young players. The interest in Franca is hardly a surprise and it will be interesting to see how the situation develops over the next few weeks. Paying €100 million for him might be improbable, though.
