Gianluca Prestianni has become the latest South American whizkid to attract the headlines lately, following reports of him becoming a subject of interest for Real Madrid.
The European champions are reportedly monitoring the progress of the young Velez Sarsfield forward, who is widely considered one of the most gifted players to come out of Argentina in recent years.
However, according to RAC1 (h/t Barça Buzz), Real Madrid are set to face stiff competition from arch-rivals FC Barcelona in the pursuit of Prestianni.
As per the report, the Catalans are also monitoring the development of the young attacker, who, at the age of just 16, recently became the youngest player to feature in a competitive match for Velez Sarsfield.
Set to turn 17 in January, clubs are already lining up for the young Argentine, even though the player will not be eligible to move to Europe until he turns 18.
The report suggests Barcelona bosses Mateu Alemany and Jordi Cruyff met with Prestianni’s agents in October to discuss a potential move to Camp Nou. They are following his situation closely and may act soon.
Unlike his Brazilian counterpart Endrick, though, Prestianni may have a difficult time making a further impression in his native Argentina, as Velez Sarsfield are more reliant on experienced stars rather than giving youngsters such as him, the platform to showcase their talents.
Nevertheless, Prestianni remains one of the most sought-after youngsters in the country, And along with Barcelona and Real Madrid, it appears SL Benfica and Manchester United are also interested in securing his services in the coming future.
For the time being, the player is expected to continue his progress at Velez Sarsfield, having already featured in six competitive matches for the Argentine outfit.