Arsene Wenger is closing in on another promising Spanish teenager, Real Madrid’s Jose Rodriguez, according to the Daily Mail.
The Frenchman has already managed to snap up Jon Miquel Toral and Héctor Bellerín, who both arrived from Barcelona earlier this summer, and is now looking to add the 16-year-old midfielder to his project.
Rodriguez impressed Arsenal’s chief scout in Spain Francisco Cagiao during the Under-17 World Club Championship in Madrid, where he was voted the player of the tournament.
It is believed that the young Spaniard had been invited to spend two days in London, where he scoped out the youth team living-quarters and facilities, as well as mapping out his likely progression, if he were to join Arsenal – It is thought that a first-team debut would be handed to him inside his first two years of signing for the Gunners.
It is also understood that the youngster spoke to Arsenal captain Cesc Fabrges, who advised him to join the north London club.
A compensation deal has not yet been finalised between the two clubs, but are believed to be negotiating a possible deal.
Real Madrid have not given up hope of keeping Rodriguez at the Bernabeu, but the idea of being fast-tracked to first-team football at the Emirates, as well as signing a professional contract when he turns 17 in December, have made the prospect of joining Arsenal more enticing than staying in Spain.
Here is a video of the young midfielder in action:
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I hope one day he will find that we need a good defender.
Another youngster, u need to take urgent action on our current squad.
Yes he needs to take action with the current squad but that’s not what this blog was about and signing the player of the tournament from the world U-17s championship, probably for free, has to be good news for any fan.
if only all AFC fans are as level-headed as you! brilliant news to me.
free??? its never free. compensation followed by him possibly becoming a world class player pining to return to real madrid in 5 or 6 years… honestly are these spanish kids worht the hassle anymore.??
I don’t know what to call this man,what do Arsene Wenger think he is doing?Wenger is doing no good but harm to [Arsenal fc] the team [players] and the fans. Wenger has being playing with youngstars for the past six years and he and his so called youngstars have won nothing.Fabregas and Nasri can leave,they have done there best for Arsenal fc,i can’t say anything bad about these guys.Arsene Wenger should get Juan mata,Aly cissokho,Phil jagieka,Lucas biglia,Romelu lukaku,Miralem pjanic and Viviano now and he must be fast about it then Arsenal fans will know Arsene Wenger is ready to win somthing for Arsenal fc. Arsenal fc has made money,money for the past six years so spend the money on these guys now,today and not tomorrow. ARSENAL 4 LIFE.
my god some thick people on here
why are people having a go at wenger for siging a young player ?
how do they expect to run a football club if they dont bring in youth players.
youth players and are current squad are 2 diffrent things arsenal as a club is not all about wenger signing players to make a good fist eleve.
just show some respect to the man.
Nothing special about this player, another criag eastmond
you are not sign the present problem the team have,forget the under 16 player and find solution for the team.