According to some sections of the media on Wednesday, Real Madrid have pipped their European rivals to a deal for a highly rated Uruguayan youngster, Federico Valverde.
The Daily Express states:
According to El Confidencial, Madrid president Florentino Perez offered an initial €6million for the highly-rated Valverde who plays for Penarol and it was enough to seal the deal.
The report claims Arsenal only offered €3.5m for the 17-year-old who starred in the South American under-17 Championship.
Little is known about the forward outside of his country but he is making a name for himself after playing a starring role in the South American Under 17 Championship which took place in Paraguay in March. Although Uruguay failed to finish in the top four – Brazil won it for the eleventh time, to send shivers down the spines of anyone hoping to dominate the international scene in future – Federico Valverde scored a remarkable 7 goals in the tournament to finish second top scorer, behind Brazil’s Leandro.
The source states that his club, Penarol, were reluctant to let a player of such promise leave but the economics of the Real Madrid offer were too good to turn down.
We have found a clip of one of the goals that he scored in the tournament – a free kick which had no right to go in but demonstrates just one of his many talents. This lad looks as if he could one day be a big star for Real Madrid, if they do indeed complete a deal for him.
