Barcelona academy star Marc Jurado is to sign for Manchester United this summer as another one of the Catalan club's brightest talents makes the move elsewhere.
Jurado, 16, is seen as one of the leading talents in the club's La Masia academy and reports in Spain last week revealed United had convinced the player and his parents to swap Barcelona for Manchester, just as Gerard Pique did at the same age in 2004.
Sportsmail runs the rule over the Barcelona full-back to see why United have targeted him, his style of play and the reaction from Barcelona supporters at news of his departure.
HOW GOOD IS HE?
Barcelona certainly tried to keep him. But the prospect of being fast-tracked seems to have convinced him and his parents Pedro and Paqui that following in the footsteps of Gerard Pique – he joined United from Barcelona in 2004 aged 16 – was the right move.
The natural projection for a Cadette A (under-16) player would be to move to Juvenil B (under-17) which was what Barcelona were offering. But the player has preferred to jump a youth group and play at Under-18 level at United.
Barcelona also offered him a better financial package than he had at Under-17 level but it is clear United have offered a better deal.
HOW MUCH WILL HE COST?
Around €1.5million (£1.3m) in training compensation fees for the nine years he has been developed at Barcelona. He joined their under-sevens in 2011.
WHAT TYPE OF PLAYER IS HE?
He is an attacking right back who uses the ball well but he first shone as a goalscorer.
At his first club, Can Rull, in Catalonia, he stood out for his ability to find the back of the net and, according to Barça youth system expert Albert Roge he wore the number seven shirt, and thanks to the soft spot his family had for Atletico Madrid he was dubbed 'Forlan' after Uruguayan striker Diego, who was at Atletico at the time and having previously played at Old Trafford.
AND BARCELONA SWOOPED?
Barcelona signed him when he was seven although he had to be persuaded.
He liked things as they were at local club Can Rull and out of a sense of loyalty to his friends he wanted to stay.
He was also still not stuck on his chosen sport – he was a good Handball player (particularly popular in Spain) and could easily have made that his priority.
In the end he chose Barcelona.
AND HE WAS A SUCCESS?
He was soon celebrating winning the league with the under-eights and he has developed well since then.
He really caught the eye in 2016 when he was part of the Barcelona team that beat Real Madrid in the final to win the under-12s Mediterranean International Cup.
The tournament is a big deal with clubs from around Europe involved and Jurado scored the first goal with a header in the 2-0 win.
SO BARCA FANS ARE SAD TO LOSE HIM?
Losing one full-back to Manchester might be an accident but two… Manchester City look like taking Juan Larios at the end of the season after he made it clear he wanted to move to England instead of continue his football education at Barcelona.
The 16-year-old was also highly rated and Barcelona tried in vain to convince him to stay. The club's fans are sick of top local talent moving on. Especially when the club, then pay for young players from abroad at higher prices. Although at the moment they are also struggling to do that.
They wanted Brazilian Under-17 right-back Yan Couto but appeared to have been beaten to the signing by Manchester City. They have managed to hang on to midfield star Moriba and brilliant striker Ansu Fati, who has already reached the first team.
But in seems Jurado, a teenager who plays in a position that has been problematic to feel since Dani Alves' departure, has been allowed to get away.
Joel14
1
he reminds me of how j.belleti played. an attacking fullback full of action. He could score important goals too.
Joel14
3
ole is buying gems. he is gona build the best academy in the country by a mile. united is returning back to her glory days soon rather than later. dillon joined from ajax, hannibal from monaco, hugill from sunderland and the academy has lots of talents like aliou and shoretire. Charlie mcCann is a midfield maestro just like paul scholes was. GGMU
Joel14
1
Why do this crap Utd? Just like Pique he will go back to Barca.
not this time.
ShyDevil
0
Why do this crap Utd? Just like Pique he will go back to Barca.
Henblmnopz
0
Stop plundering our Academy players.
how about using kubo
Messi-goat10
2
well we will make use of he's talent..
Make use like lingard, Jones?? 😂😂
Messi-goat10
0
I hope he comes back to bite barca in the ass!!!
lol😂😂
dowekoprs
0
Stop plundering our Academy players.
well we will make use of he's talent..
dowekoprs
5
hope he comes back to bite barca in the ass!!!
dowekoprs
4
I hope he comes back to bite barca in the ass!!!
12UnitedGuyReborn
1
It is quite normal when you don’t give them chance in the senior team 🙂
I hope a time comes when you guys give more chances, see Messi, Iniesta and I think Xavi, Puyol and Pique(with united too) all made it out of La Masia, so your academy is good enough all you guys have to do is trust them more and stop selling them out
12UnitedGuyReborn
1
It is quite normal when you don’t give them chance in the senior team 🙂
true
12UnitedGuyReborn
3
There is better chance to make it out of united academy as a teen than in Barca, Barca and Real Madrid favors buying every single player in their 11 rather than be patient with young talents maybe because Spanish football gives them most of the leagues money so they can always buy, not that others cannot buy but in Manchester especially the Red Half we are used to giving our academy a chance and most of our best players in history all graduated from our academy and then others who do not play for us tend to graduate and make it in football, so he made smart move if you are a young talent and want to make it out of a huge club's academy then England is your best bet check all English top clubs right now, they all have their academy graduates playing for them in every game and some like Rashford, McTerminator, TAA, Abraham, Mount, Kane, Foden and more even tend to be useful regulars or even best players in those clubs while also trying to win silverware too but in Spain it happens too but just less with the two Giants there
Rieblnps
4
I know that Ole won't let him return when he is upto 20 or 21 years bcoz we need to build a strong team in the future.... Welcome to United
shray_barca
2
Stop plundering our Academy players.
KESK
6
It is quite normal when you don’t give them chance in the senior team 🙂