Juni Calafat has reportedly told Real Madrid to sign 16-year-old English midfield sensation Chris Rigg from Sunderland this summer.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Chris Rigg is the subject of interest from Real Madrid. Juni Calafat is driving Los Blancos’ move for the 16-year-old Sunderland midfield sensation heading into the summer transfer window.
Who is Chris Rigg?
Chris Rigg is one of the brightest young prospects in his homeland. A native of Hebburn, he has risen through the ranks at Sunderland AFC before breaking into the first-team squad. The English midfield sensation has constantly played at a higher level than his age group on the club and international stages.
The 16-year-old made his first-team debut for Sunderland in January 2023 as a 15-year-old and has turned out 25 times thus far for the Black Cats, chipping in with three goals. Rigg represents England at the under-18 level, making three appearances for the youth international team. Meanwhile, the youngster’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs across Europe.
Widespread reports have linked Rigg with many Premier League bigwigs, with almost every “Big Six” side keeping tabs on his progress at Sunderland AFC. In addition, others have speculated that Newcastle United lead the race to sign him. The latest update has suggested that the teenage prospect is a target for Real Madrid.
La Liga move on the cards?
Juni Calafat, the chief scout for Real Madrid, is driving Los Blancos’ move for Chris Rigg. Calafat is responsible for unearthing several highly-rated prodigies who have become instrumental figures for Real Madrid, including Federico Valverde and Vinicius Junior. Meanwhile, the Sunderland wonderkid fits the bill for Real Madrid.
The Merengues are renowned for constantly scouring the market for highly-rated prospects, with reports heavily linking Franco Mastantuono with the Spanish club. Meanwhile, Rigg can be a long-term solution for Real Madrid, considering Toni Kroos and Luka Modric are in the twilight of their careers.
Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham’s success at Real Madrid is proof that Englishmen can also thrive at the Santiago Bernabeu. So, it will be interesting to see if Calafat’s push for Chris Rigg’s signature yields a summer move.
