Manchester United and Real Madrid Sign 14 Year Old and 7 Year Old Prodigies

Manchester United and Real Madrid are the two teams who believe in signing players when they are young. If United signed Chicharito, Smalling and Bebe last season, Real Madrid signed Ozil, Di Maria and Marcelo. But this time, the two European giants have gone a step forward and have signed two incredibly talented kids, touted to be future superstars.

Real Madrid have signed a seven-year-old Argentine Leonel Angel Coira, after the boy impressed their rivals, Atletico Madrid’s, scouts during the try-outs.

Leonel-Real Madrid's reply to Barcelona's Lionel Messi

Announcing the agreement, Real Madrid spokesman Juan Tapiador said the club took on players of any age as long as they offered “something different”.

“They only have to be a standout. We look for something different, that quality or talent that makes them stand out from the rest.”

Leonel will start training with the club’s children’s team in September on a one-year renewable contract. He can join the first team from the age of 16. The kid’s father, Miguel Coira, a coach for a small team in the Madrid suburbs, said that Real Madrid approached them after Atletico Madrid had sent an invitation to Leonel. Speaking to Spanish newspaper ABC, Miguel said:

“The scouts (at Atletico) saw him and were the first to send a letter of invitation but after doing tests at both teams, he felt more comfortable at Real Madrid. I’m very confident about the club, I know they will take care of him.”

Barcelona and Real Madrid share a fierce rivalry. This however, has not stopped the kid to reveal his admiration of Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi. The 7-year-old, who shares his name with the Catalan player said:

“My dream is to meet Messi, play in the first division with Madrid and for Argentina in the World Cup.”

Coira begins training on 6 September and will receive travel costs but no salary.

Meanwhile, Manchester United have signed a 14 year old goalkeeper, Dean Henderson, from Carlisle United.

The 14-year-old was watched by United’s scouts for over two months before an official contract was agreed. Carlisle’s head of youth Eric Kinder is convinced the Premier League winners have signed a future superstar.

“Manchester United have watched him and they’ve come in to get him, and an undisclosed fee has been agree. In all honesty, there is nothing you can do to keep a young player when something like this happens. They are a massive club and you probably get one chance at signing for a set up like that. We can’t really say no, but I would have loved to have kept him. I think he’s probably the best young goalkeeper that I have ever worked with and it has been a pleasure to watch him,” he told the club’s official website.

Chelsea and Newcastle United too were reportedly vying for the teenager’s signature.