Cesar Gelaber has won the U17 European Championship with Spain (Image credit: Google)
According to Spanish outlet AS (h/t Daily Record), Manchester United have joined the race to sign Real Madrid youngster Cesar Gelabert, who plays for Los Blancos’ Castilla team.
Gelabert, 19, who rose through the ranks at Bernabeu, has been impressive for Real Madrid’s youth teams and has also attracted interest from some of the top European clubs including Arsenal, as per the report.
Meanwhile, Manchester United have been brilliant in the past few months since the arrival of Portuguese ace Bruno Fernandes. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has managed to lift the team to the top after some crucial signings in the last two transfer windows.
Odion Ighalo was also signed on loan last January and the Nigerian has been in terrific form since his arrival. With the team improving in recent weeks, the manager should look to bring in fresh and youthful faces as he seems to build a team for the future.
Solskjaer has given a lot of opportunities to youngsters in the past one-and-a-half years and most of them have repaid the faith with some brilliant performances.
The likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Brandon Williams, Mason Greenwood have all done a better job and thus, it is evident that the Norwegian tactician is looking for the future to be set. Hence, a move for Real Madrid youngster Cesar Gelabert would be a wise decision by the club.
Gelabert has made 13 appearances, in the Segunda Division in a variety of positions, and also in his natural role as an attacking midfielder and has a goal to his name. At the moment, the Reds Devils have three attacking midfielders in Fernandes, Juan Mata and Andreas Pereira.
While the Portuguese playmaker has been a breath of fresh air, Pereira has underperformed and looks totally out of form. Spanish ace Mata is 31 and already past his prime. In that regard, Gelabert would be a valuable addition to United’s squad for the future.
The 19-year-old is a highly-rated midfielder and has already shown his abilities with the Castilla team. He has been a regular for the side in the past two years and was also an influential member of Spain’s U17 European championship-winning campaign in 2017.
With Mata and Pereira falling down the pecking order, United should bring in youngsters who can continue after Fernandes. And Gelabert’s qualities suggest he can be a part of the Red Devils’ future. Thus, United should sign the Spaniard when his contract with Real Madrid comes to an end in the summer.
