Real Madrid pushing to sign highly-rated teenage talent from Barcelona affiliated club | OneFootball

According to a report from SPORT, Real Madrid have taken a big step towards signing 13-year-old Matteo Assad, a Brazilian talent currently playing for Atletic Sant Just.

The young midfielder, known for his creativity and technical skill, has already received the green light from Madrid’s scouting department.

What makes this story even more interesting is that Sant Just has a collaboration agreement with FC Barcelona, making the situation a bit of a surprise twist.

Who is Matteo Assad?

The outlet mentions that Assad is not just another young name in the system. The ambidextrous midfielder has already scored 21 goals and provided 35 assists for the U-13 team since joining last summer.

His vision, ability to use both feet, and sharp attacking instincts have made him stand out in the youth ranks. Real Madrid, always on the lookout for future stars, are now close to making a move.

This potential signing has a curious backstory. It was through the ‘futsal connection’ that Real Madrid learned about Matteo Assad’s talent.

Juni Calafat, Madrid’s chief scout and the man behind many successful signings, brought in Marcelo Serpa—his close friend and a former Brazilian futsal player—to help in scouting.

Serpa spotted Assad and quickly recognised the talent in the youngster. Assad, as it turns out, is the son of former Brazilian futsal player Fabiano Assad, a peer of Serpa.

The transfer is n’ot final yet, but Madrid are in pole position. Assad had attracted interest from Italian giants like Juventus and Fiorentina last year.

Juventus are still keen, and even Inter Milan have sent scouts to watch the player in action at Sant Just Desvern. But with Real Madrid now stepping up their pursuit, a deal could be wrapped up in the coming weeks.

For Madrid, securing a player like Assad from a club linked to Barça would be a statement move. It shows the club’s continued commitment to building for the future, and getting ahead of their rivals while doing so.