Manchester City eye City Football Group starlet excelling at FIFA Under-17 World Cup | OneFootball

Talent-spotters at Manchester City are reportedly monitoring the situation and performances of teenage talent, Ruan Pablo from sister club Bahia.

The City Football Group is a global footballing powerhouse allowing for the centrepiece of the organisation in Manchester City to have an elite scouting network across multiple continents, identifying young talents and using their of sister clubs to help them develop.

One club on the long list of acquisitions by the City Football Group is Esporte Clube Bahia of Brazil, acquiring a 90% stake in the side in 2023 after the club’s members overwhelmingly voted in favour of CFG’s proposal months prior.

Historically, Brazil is a nation that lives and breathes the beautiful game, with it being a core part of their culture. Therefore, the South American nation is the birthplace of an endless array of young footballing talent, and the story of exciting teenager Ruan Pablo is no different.

According to Spanish outlet AS, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, the City Group forward has impressed on the international stage at the ongoing FIFA Under-17 World Cup having also shined at the South American Championship earlier this year, receiving the MVP award.

Pep Guardiola was reportedly monitoring the teenager closely last winter when Ruan Pablo trained in Manchester, with the Salvador-born 17-year-old standing out for his pace, power and technique, capable with both feet and holding a natural goalscoring instinct.

At Bahia, the youngster is already regarded as the club’s key prospect. Pablo made his debut at just 16 years and one day old and has since featured for the senior team on 12 occasions, scoring once in the process.

He is clearly viewed as invaluable by the higher-ups at the Brazilian club, as they have renewed his deal until December 2027 and added a record £169 million (€200 million) release clause to protect their talent from the powers in Europe.

His great form at the Under-17 World Cup, which included a goal and a standout display against Honduras, has no doubt further raised his profile within the City Football Group.

Manchester City could now be faced with an internal ultimatum on whether to bring the talent to their own setup to help him develop at the City Football Academy, or leave the Brazilian at his current club Bahia for a longer period to allow him to grow there.