BRAGANCA PAULISTA, BRAZIL - SEPTEMBER 06: Gabriel Veron of Palmeiras celebrates after scoring his team first goal during a match between Red Bull Bragantino and Palmeiras as part of Brasileirao Series A 2020 at Nabi Abi Chedid stadium on September 06, 2020 in Braganca Paulista, Brazil. (Photo by Miguel Schincariol/Getty Images)
According to claims from Spanish outlet Sport (h/t Daily Star), Manchester United are working hard behind the scenes to get a deal over the line for highly-rated Brazilian wonderkid Gabriel Veron.
The 18-year-old forward has caught the eye of several European clubs after bursting on to the scene at Palmeiras in his homeland. As per the report, Premier League rivals Manchester City, Serie A title holders Juventus and La Liga heavyweights Barcelona are also vying for the teenager’s signature.
Veron has a release clause of €60million written into his contact at Palmeiras but it is understood that a fee in the region of €20million could be enough to bring him to Europe. (Sport h/t Daily Star)
Gabriel Veron joined Palmeiras’ youth system from local club Santa Cruz de Natal in 2017. He signed his first professional contract in November 2018 after finishing as the top goalscorer for the club’s U-17 side. A year later, the starlet made his senior breakthrough in the top-flight and has since gone on to register 10 goals and 5 assists in 34 appearances across all competitions.
The 18-year-old has also excelled on the international front for Brazil’s U-17 side. He was an undisputed starter en route to his nation’s triumphant campaign at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup last year, bagging the competition’s Golden Ball award in the process.
Man United have made a lot of progress in terms of strengthening at the youth and reserve level following the appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The Red Devils snapped up emerging prospects like Marc Jurado, Alejandro Garnacho, Charlie McNeil and Isak Hansen-Aaroen this past summer.
While the acquisition of Uruguayan hotshot Facundo Pellistri from Penarol grabbed the headlines in the summer, United went one step further with a deal for Amad Diallo earlier this month. Suffice to say, the Red Devils are making a conscious effort to build a strong platform for the future by investing in youth development.
A potential deal for Gabriel Veron, to that end, would represent a continuation of Man United’s aggressive youth recruitment drive. The Brazilian sensation has made great strides in his development and is already rubbing shoulders with the senior pros at the tender age of 18. That clearly underlines his potential to go on and achieve bigger things in his career.
Man City took a huge gamble when they forked out a staggering sum to secure the services of Gabriel Jesus from Palmeiras back in 2016. Now with the player evolving into a regular starter in the Premier League for Pep Guardiola’s side, it would be fair to say that City’s gamble has paid off handsomely.
His namesake, Gabriel Veron, looks like a top young player in a similar mould, having already made eyeballs turn with his goalscoring prowess at Palmeiras. That said, United should definitely take a punt on the teenager this month.