Spanish giants Real Madrid have reportedly set their sights on 17-year-old Spanish youth international Assane Diao.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Assane Diao is the subject of interest from Real Madrid. The 17-year-old has enjoyed an impressive 2022/23 season, with Los Blancos setting sights on him during the recent Champions Cup final. And Real Madrid Juvenil A beat Real Betis under-19 in the said match.
Assane Diao is a native of Senegal but has settled down in Spain. The teenage sensation has spent his formative years thus far across Spain, rising in stature since joining Real Betis. And he has made swift progress at the Andalusian giants, already representing their reserve side. Meanwhile, he is also a Spanish youth international and currently represents the nation’s under-18 team.
As for Diao’s exploits this season, he was recently in the spotlight during the Champions Cup final. But the 17-year-old has also represented Real Betis’s reserve side, racking up four goals and two assists in 20 outings. And the youngster’s progress has not gone unnoticed either, with Real Madrid among his prospective suitor.
The Merengues are renowned for constantly foraying the market for promising prospects apart from signing the world’s best players. Such an outlook enables Real Madrid to never long for smooth transitions from one generation to the next in the first-team squad. It has also brought young world-beaters like Vinicius Junior and Federico Valverde to Real Madrid.
The Spanish giants have also reached an agreement to sign Endrick, who will arrive at the Santiago Bernabeu next year. And Real Madrid’s scouting missions also spread across Spain, with Assane Diao emerging as a target. Even though Real Betis lost the Champions Cup to Real Madrid, his performances this term have been enough to impress the heavyweight club.
The outgoing La Liga champions are also keen on French teenage sensation Rayan Cherki. As for Diao, the 17-year-old Spanish youth international will initially bolster the Real Madrid Castilla side. But if he continues to make exponential progress then Los Blancos will likely integrate him into the first-team squad.
But Real Betis will look to keep hold of the teenage wonderkid beyond the summer transfer window. The Andalusian giants hold Diao in high regard and intend to include him in their first-team plans next season. So it will be interesting to see what the 17-year-old decides.
