From 101gg:
While we missed out on this one, it seems our scouting is getting the inside edge on a lot of these highly rated youngsters. One can only hope that a few of them turn out to be contributors in the coming years.
Real Madrid have beaten off the interest of Liverpool to sign 16-year-old forward Mario Rodriguez to a new deal.
According to Marca, Liverpool offered to double the salary of Rodriguez but the highly-rated attacker rejected the overtures of the Anfield club to agree a new four-year contract.
Liverpool have been combing the youth ranks of some of Spain’s largest clubs to sign Sergio Canos from Barcelona and Valencia’s Pedro Chirivella.
Much like when Arsenal signed Cesc Fabregas, Liverpool have taken advantage of the rule differences in Spain and England to lure highly-talented youngsters to the Premier League at 16.
Mario Rodriguez is rated as one of the best young players in Real Madrid’s youth system and is a Spanish Under-17 international.
Originally from Barcelona, Rodriguez has reportedly caught the eye of many scouts, not just Liverpool’s, as an attacking player with high technical ability and imagination.
While we missed out on this one, it seems our scouting is getting the inside edge on a lot of these highly rated youngsters. One can only hope that a few of them turn out to be contributors in the coming years.