Manchester City leading race to sign record-breaking wonderkid: report

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Manchester City are looking to hoover up the best young talent from across Europe

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola during the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final match between Manchester City and Newcastle United at Etihad Stadium on March 16, 2024 in Manchester, England.
(Image credit: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)

Manchester City are leading the race for a record-breaking wonderkid ahead of the summer transfer window.

Though Manchester City aren't necessarily renowned for bringing young players through, with Phil Foden and Rico Lewis the only notable players from the last few years to make the step-up to the first team, one European prodigy has caught the attention of the club's recruitment team. 

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato.It, Manchester City are leading the race to sign AC Milan forward Francesco Camarda, a record-breaking Italian who is attracting serious attention from around Europe. 

Rico Lewis of Manchester City runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League Group G match between Manchester City and FK Crvena zvezda at Etihad Stadium on September 19, 2023 in Manchester, England.

Lewis is one of just a handful of young players to make the grade at City (Image credit: Isaac Parkin - MCFC/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)

Camarda became the youngest-ever Serie A player when he debuted for AC Milan at 15 years and 260 days of age in November 2023, coming on in the 83rd minute during a 1-0 win against Fiorentina. He has made another appearance in the top flight of Italian football this term, though the majority of his gametime has come in Milan's U19 team.

Yet to sign a professional contract with Milan, Camarda is a tall forward with bundles of potential and Manchester City are interested in developing the youngster under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola. 

Manchester City aren't the only club interested, in Camarda, though, with Chelsea and Arsenal also both looking to strike a deal for the young Italian. A move elsewhere in Europe isn't out of the question, either.

Manchester City target AC Milan's 15-year-old forward Francesco Camarda comes on to make his debut against Fiorentina in Serie A in November 2023.

Camarda debuted for Milan at 15-years-old (Image credit: Getty Images)

Due to Brexit and FIFA rules, players under the age of 18 cannot be internationally transferred, though Camarda is permitted to sign for another club elsewhere in Europe now he has turned 16. 

Despite the interest in Camarda, AC Milan are reportedly confident in retaining the forward for the rest of his teenage years at least. In Italy, players aged 16 are able to sign professional deals, while in the UK the earliest is 17. That could play well into Milan's hands, who have the potential tie him down to a contract with a hefty release clause. 

Camarda is valued at €10m by Transfermarkt. 

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Ryan Dabbs
Ryan Dabbs
Staff writer

Ryan is a staff writer for FourFourTwo, joining the team full-time in October 2022. He first joined Future in December 2020, working across FourFourTwo, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture's websites, before eventually earning himself a position with FourFourTwo permanently. After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism and Communications, Ryan earned a NCTJ qualification to further develop as a writer while a Trainee News Writer at Future.