Liverpool and Manchester United set for bidding war to sign Lionel Messi's 19-year-old compatriot: Reports

According to a report on GOAL, Manchester United and Liverpool are set to battle for the signature of Lionel Messi's international teammate Julio Soler. The 19-year-old full-back has been impressive for boyhood club Lanus and looks set for a move to a club in Europe.

Soler made the bench in Argentina's 6-0 and 1-1 wins against Bolivia and Venezuela, respectively, in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers last month. He is expected to have a bright future with the national team.

The young defender is considered a potential heir to Andrew Robertson or Luke Shaw if he goes to Liverpool or United, respectively. He has made 53 appearances for Lanus since his 2021-22 season debut.

Manchester United, meanwhile, are starting a new era under new head coach Ruben Amorim after a poor start to the campaign that sees them 13th in the league table. They are likely to find it hard to convince Lionel Messi's international teammate to pick a move to Old Trafford over one to Anfield.

The Merseysiders sit atop the Premier League standings after 11 games with 28 points.

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Profile of Lionel Messi's compatriot, Julio Soler, amid Manchester United and Liverpool interest

Julio Soler has not taken to the pitch alongside arguably his nation's greatest-ever player, Lionel Messi. However, the 19-year-old's performances have seen him attract the interest of English giants Manchester United and Liverpool.

The full-back was impressive during his nation's Olympic 2024 journey in Paris and showed his energy and pace at the tournament. He made four appearances and also provided an assist as they lost in the quarter-finals. The Lanus defender has shown impressive aggression and often relishes getting into duels with his opposite number in the few games he has played in his young career.

Following his inclusion in his national team's squad last month, he gushed about the chance to rub shoulders with Lionel Messi, saying via Goal:

"I haven't spoken to Messi much. I've watched him on TV all my life and now he's right here, it's amazing. It doesn't seem real."

Soler has yet to score his first professional goal in any capacity but has provided two assists so far. Still, he now has the opportunity to play in Europe for Manchester United or Liverpool if a move is finalized in the winter window. With a reported transfer value of just €6 million, he could prove an affordable addition to either team, given his high ceiling.