Marc Jurado: Who is the 16-year-old dubbed 'Forlan' that Man Utd are signing?

  /  autty

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.

Related: Manchester United
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