Fabrizio Romano has given the ‘right here we go’ to Liverpool’s pursuit of a a lot sought-after teenage prodigy from South America.
Final month, it was reported that Anfield scouts had been retaining tabs on Samuel Martinez, a playmaker for Colombian outfit Atletico Nacional who turned 17 in early April and is known to have been looking forward to a transfer to Europe.
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FIFA guidelines prohibit the worldwide switch of gamers underneath the age of 18, which suggests he’ll stay in his homeland for the subsequent 12 months, however it seems that the Reds have gained the race for his signature.
Romano provides ‘right here we go’ to Martinez to Liverpool
In an replace on his eponymous YouTube channel, Romano revealed that Liverpool have agreed a deal to signal the Colombian teenager forward of a number of European suitors, with the Merseysiders additionally understood to have organized a sell-on clause if he goes on to affix one other membership sooner or later.
The Italian switch reporter outlined: “Samuel Martinez has agreed phrases with Liverpool. He’ll be a part of when he turns 18 in 2027.
“Borussia Dortmund have been able to make a deal occur with a giant assault. There was additionally one other European large membership – not from England, however one other nation – making an attempt to enter the race for Martinez, thought-about a really fascinating goal, however Liverpool have an settlement with the boy.
“Liverpool have an settlement with Atletico Nacional. There can be additionally a small proportion of future sale that Liverpool have agreed to be able to speed up talks and shut the deal as quickly as potential, so Samuel Martinez to Liverpool is a ‘right here we go’.”
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It has the makings of a powerful coup by Liverpool
It may not be a blockbuster signing to instantly increase the extent of the Reds’ first workforce, however for Liverpool to fend off widespread European curiosity for Martinez should go down as a powerful coup by the Anfield hierarchy.
The 17-year-old has earned stylistic comparisons to former AC Milan and Brazil icon Kaka for his ‘lanky body, upright model of working and misleading velocity briefly bursts’ (The Athletic), and he starred with three assists in Colombia’s South American U-17 Championship triumph lastmonth.
{The teenager} has but to make his senior debut for Atletico Nacional, however that’ll certainly change between now and when he relocated to Merseyside after his 18th birthday subsequent 12 months.
Liverpool’s in depth scouting seems to have paid dividends, and whereas it may be a while earlier than Martinez breaks into the primary workforce at Anfield, his burgeoning status would recommend {that a} senior breakthrough with the Reds appears a matter of when slightly than if.
It’ll be thrilling to see what {the teenager} can produce in his homeland over the subsequent few months earlier than he involves England. If he could make even half the influence over right here that Kaka did in his taking part in profession, this’ll go down as an enormous win for the LFC recruitment and scouting workforce.
