Arsenal move ahead of Real Madrid and Barcelona in race to sign 18-year-old Spanish prodigy: Reports

Arsenal have gotten ahead of Real Madrid and Barcelona in the race to sign 18-year-old Spanish prodigy Antonio Cordero. The talented winger has enjoyed extensive development at different academies in Spain, ranging from Cadiz to Sevilla and Real Betis. However, he broke through at Malaga's youth setup, before breaking through the first team in 2023.

Earlier this year, he broke through Spain's U-18 side, making two caps, before being called up to the U-19 side, where he has made six caps so far. The prodigy is enjoying an impressive season with Malaga in Spain's second division. In 12 LaLiga2 games, he has scored three goals and provided three assists.

Therefore, it is little surprise that he has garnered the attention of bigger European clubs. Real Madrid and Barcelona have shown interest in Cordero's services, and both clubs could be strong options if the 18-year-old prefers to stay in Spain.

However, according to a report from CaughtOffside, Arsenal are in the lead to sign the youngster. With Malaga in Spain's second tier, the Gunners will look to sign him at a bargain fee.

The north London giants will be wary though, as giants like Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and Juventus have been monitoring young Cordero.

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Arsenal, Barcelona, and Real Madrid enter the weekend in search of important wins

With club football returning, Arsenal, Barcelona, and Real Madrid will enter the weekend in search of important wins, as they continue their hunt for trophies this season.

For the Gunners, their current spot in fourth on the Premier League table will raise concerns. They face fifth-place Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, November 23, knowing that a loss could see them drop further down the table.

The tale is slightly different in Spain, where Barcelona currently lead the standings, six points ahead of Real Madrid, who have a game in hand. Barca entered the international break with a loss to Real Sociedad, and they will be looking to turn things around. They face Celta Vigo at Balaidos on Saturday and need a win to consolidate their lead and put pressure on Madrid.

Despite having a game in hand, Los Blancos will not be pleased to sit six points behind Barca. They face 14th-placed Leganes at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque on Sunday, November 24.