Barcelona is preparing to compete with Real Madrid for Espanyol academy talent Pol Sabadi. The 14-year-old is expected to join Barcelona's La Masia this summer.
Barcelona set to battle Real Madrid for Espanyol academy prodigy â report
As reported earlier this week, FC Barcelona are all set to sign one of RCD Espanyolâs most exciting academy talents, Pol Sabadi, in the summer.
The 14-year-old starlet will become the latest youth prospect to make the cross-Catalonia switch, following the likes of Oriol Pallas, Daehan Lee, Ming-uk Lee, and Pol Mancheno last summer.
However, he is not likely to be the only one that Barcelona are trying to sign from their rivalsâ youth academy.
Indeed, according to SPORT, Barcelona are also interested in signing teenage Espanyol talent Jan Vila Farre. However, they are set to face stiff competition from Real Madrid.
Jan Vila is considered one of the most promising wingers not only in Espanyolâs academy but in all of Catalan youth football.
The winger began his career at Tarrega before moving to Gimnastic Manresa, where he scored 28 goals in 58 matches.
In the 2023/24 season, he joined Espanyol, where he netted 16 goals in 26 games for the Alevin A team. His scoring form continued, with 15 goals in 26 matches for the Infantil B side last season.
This season, Jan has scored 11 goals in 21 official matches for Espanyolâs U-14 side. A second-year player, he is a powerful, fast attacker with strong technical ability.
Pol Sabadi is a 14-year-old academy player from Espanyol, and his potential transfer to Barcelona highlights his status as a promising talent.
Recent transfers from Espanyol to Barcelona include Oriol Pallas, Daehan Lee, Ming-uk Lee, and Pol Mancheno.
The rivalry often intensifies competition for top youth talents, as both clubs seek to strengthen their squads with promising players from rival academies.
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He plays as a classic right-winger, highly effective in one-on-one situations, and is a key figure in Espanyolâs U-14 team. Alongside Alejandro Barbany, he is considered one of the standout talents in the squad.
Jan is set to face Barça today in a U-14 derby that could be decisive in the title race in the Division de Honor. Girona currently lead with 66 points, Barça are second, just two points behind, and Espanyol sit third, four points off the top.
Barcelona are interested in signing Jan, but it will not be easy. Real Madrid are also pushing hard to convince the player and his family to move to the Spanish capital.
The Blaugrana, however, are not giving up and are working to persuade him to stay in Catalonia and accept their proposal.