From Brazil: Manchester City battling Chelsea for €40M teenage midfield sensation | OneFootball

Manchester City are among a host of clubs tracking Cruzeiro midfielder Eduardo Pape following his eye-catching performances at the South American U17 Championship, as per reports from Brazil.

The 17-year-old finished the tournament as one of its top scorers, netting four goals in five matches for Brazil, who finished third overall.

His performances attracted scouts from across Europe, with Chelsea, Bournemouth, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, Monaco and Villarreal also among those watching closely from Paraguay.

City Football Group and Chelsea are reported to have already made enquiries about the midfielder, with Cruzeiro understood to be targeting offers in the region of €30-40 million despite Pape still operating at youth level.

Report: City, Chelsea and Bournemouth tracking Pape

As reported by Brazilian outlet UOL, a club chief who attended matches at the South American U17 Championship confirmed that multiple clubs held conversations in Paraguay about Eduardo Pape.

“I was in Paraguay following the U17 South American Championship. I spoke with the clubs, all showed interest and said they would assess his projection. I am expecting something, at least,” the official said, as relayed by Sport Witness.

Cruzeiro are working to strengthen their hand ahead of any potential sale, with the club looking to increase their share of Pape’s rights from 50 to 75 percent.

The teenager recently signed a contract running until January 2029, underscoring the Brazilian club’s intention to retain control of their asset for as long as possible.

What would Pape bring to Manchester City?

Pape stands at 186 cm and offers a combination of physical presence and technical quality rare for a player of his age.

Comfortable operating as either a deeper number six or advanced number eight, his game is built around positioning, passing economy and decision-making rather than athleticism alone – a profile that maps closely to the type of midfield profile City director of football Hugo Viana has sought in the transfer market since his appointment in 2025.

City’s track record of recruiting young South American talent ahead of the wider market – most recently with Eduardo Conceição from Palmeiras – makes this a credible line of interest.

Whether formal negotiations follow in the summer remains to be seen but with City Football Group’s scouting network already active in Brazil, Pape will not be short of attention before long.