Barcelona set to battle Real Madrid for Espanyol academy prodigy – report | OneFootball

As reported earlier this week, FC Barcelona are all set to sign one of RCD Espanyol’s most exciting academy talents, Pol Sabadi, in the summer.

The 14-year-old starlet will become the latest youth prospect to make the cross-Catalonia switch, following the likes of Oriol Pallas, Daehan Lee, Ming-uk Lee, and Pol Mancheno last summer.

However, he is not likely to be the only one that Barcelona are trying to sign from their rivals’ youth academy.

Barcelona eyeing Jan Vila Farre

Indeed, according to SPORT, Barcelona are also interested in signing teenage Espanyol talent Jan Vila Farre. However, they are set to face stiff competition from Real Madrid.

Jan Vila is considered one of the most promising wingers not only in Espanyol’s academy but in all of Catalan youth football.

The winger began his career at Tarrega before moving to Gimnastic Manresa, where he scored 28 goals in 58 matches.

In the 2023/24 season, he joined Espanyol, where he netted 16 goals in 26 games for the Alevin A team. His scoring form continued, with 15 goals in 26 matches for the Infantil B side last season.

This season, Jan has scored 11 goals in 21 official matches for Espanyol’s U-14 side. A second-year Infantil player, he is a powerful, fast attacker with strong technical ability.

He plays as a classic right-winger, highly effective in one-on-one situations, and is a key figure in Espanyol’s U-14 team. Alongside Alejandro Barbany, he is considered one of the standout talents in the squad.

Jan is set to face Barça today in a U-14 derby that could be decisive in the title race in the Division de Honor. Girona currently lead with 66 points, Barça are second, just two points behind, and Espanyol sit third, four points off the top.

Barcelona are interested in signing Jan, but it will not be easy. Real Madrid are also pushing hard to convince the player and his family to move to the Spanish capital.

The Blaugrana, however, are not giving up and are working to persuade him to stay in Catalonia and accept their proposal.