Manchester City have won the race to sign Argentine wonderkid Thiago Almada from Velez Sarsfield for £16million, according to The Sun.
The 18-year-old has been on Pep Guardiola's radar for some time, and is set to be signed this week before being loaned to Sporting Lisbon for a year.
The original plan was to send Almada on loan to feeder club Girona, but they were relegated from La Liga last season.
Almada recently turned down a new contract at the Argentinian club that would've increased his release clause to £23million.
The general director of Velez, Pablo Cavallero, in declarations to the continental radio, according to A Bola, said: 'We have everything agreed for the renovation of Thiago, only the signature is missing. The cancellation clause will be £23m.'
City are thought to have made an £11million bid for the youngster which was rejected, and have now raised their bid to £16million.
He is thought of as one of the most exciting talents in Argentina, and has been labelled by some as 'the next Lionel Messi.'
Almada scored three goals and set up two for his team-mates in 16 appearances last campaign.
Busybrain1
0
now everyone is a wonder kid
zebklprsy
0
many messi's heir players😂😂😂🤣 what about real messi... i think he will use Lional because there are more messis🤣🤣🤣
Fiwabcost
0
guardiola with his secret purchase. this is hw he discovered Gabriel Jesus
MoazzamBaloch
0
The Media are are partly responsible for some of these Young and upcoming players Flopp. They are Quick to categorize them with PROVEN LIVING LEGENDS of the beautiful game. Peer pressure or bad decisions or injured or Management has seen them Flopp most often than realize their full potential. Leave these young lads and let them developed at their own pace and stop exaggerating.
That's what killed players like Deulofeu, Krkic. I'm not even sure about Mbappe. One injury can ruin your game. For example Coutinho was sublime before that injury in November last year. Neymar was the 3rd best in the world at Barcelona and after he got injured against Madrid. He is hardly in the top 10 current form wise. Bale's, Mendy's issue is the same
alanzo007
4
The Media are are partly responsible for some of these Young and upcoming players Flopp. They are Quick to categorize them with PROVEN LIVING LEGENDS of the beautiful game. Peer pressure or bad decisions or injured or Management has seen them Flopp most often than realize their full potential. Leave these young lads and let them developed at their own pace and stop exaggerating.
Needeilpsu
2
now man united is interested as well[Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
Kingkley
1
FM19 legend Thiago Almada.
Tim5533
1
Must be about 20 new Messi's knocking about now.
Everley
0
Anyone who is small and can dribble a bit is the new Messi. Been hearing about the new Messi god knows how many times for about ten years now, then you never hear of them again.....
doltish
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Well played by the Champions
Brandonjick
1
City going about their business efficiently.
people
0
Youth system working well for city I see lol
fcb522
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Jesus! This "new Messi" crap gets thrown around too much.
hundred
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There must be about 800 new messis and ronaldos and you never hear of them again
herdsman
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They won the race? Didn't know anyone else was linked to him
dusky
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Another new Messi eh...
youerer
0
Was tired of Japanese Messi. Now comes Argentine Messi.
Luiscarte
0
16M for a 16 year old? More acrobatics on the horizon?
Clusesed
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There is a new Messi everyday on here
snobbish
1
The greatest club for him. If a player has the opportunity to be coached by the best in the world why would he go anywhere else.
dafflike
0
Untied bid for 32m incoming
wesacity
1
Well, it's good to offer game time by loaning out unfinished articles. But if you're seeing a future with that player why not loan him to a club in the same country? Why loan him out to a different environment?
inndocide
0
city are trying to beat Chelsea to the loaning system because dis one to is gonna end on loan
GivenTembo11
3
he looks like a promising player
BedellDeco
4
Pep is a master piece