Brahim Diaz: Started at Mortadelo, played with Barca and will now join Madrid

The deal that will see Brahim Diaz join Real Madrid from Manchester City is close to completion.

The story of this 19-year-old from Malaga, who has been a star since the age of six, is a curious one.

There are family boys, and then there is Brahim, who is very close to everyone in his family from his father, Sufiel Abdelkader, to his mother and four sisters.

In sports, his father figure is Jaime, formerly of Malaga, who is a great friend of Brahim's family and who helped to shape the youngster's early steps on a football pitch.

Before Jaime, Brahim was already standing out at Mortadelo even though the ball was almost bigger than he was, earning him the nickname 'the Messi from Malaga'.

"Gentlemen, this kid is very good," Jaime is thought to have told Antonio Benitez and Ben Barek, who were responsible for the Malaga academy at the time, convincing them to take the young Brahim in.

Jaime, meanwhile, continued his personal tutelage and Brahim's first contact with his future team, Real Madrid, came when he was just seven or eight years old.

By the 2006/07 season, Jaime told then director of the Madrid academy, Michel, that he had to watch this emerging talent from Malaga, though it was not until he was eleven years of age that Madrid saw him up close and while they considered their plan, Barcelona called.

It was Albert Puig, coordinator of their youth academy and the player was already equally adept with both feet and Barcelona wanted to sign him. For Brahim though, family remained his top priority and stayed with Malaga.

Later, Manchester City arrived and Pere Guardiola, Pep's brother, helped move the deal along before the ex-Barcelona boss ever took charge at the Etihad Stadium.

His relationship with Pere continues, though Madrid are waiting for their new signing.