Manchester City, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid all have three players each in the latest Spain U17 squad.
There’s obviously an odd one out there, whilst the three La Liga clubs would expect to be mentioned among the most represented, Manchester City’s inclusion is just another example of the club’s long term recruitment plan.
Only one other non Spanish club has any players in the selection at all, and that City’s rivals Manchester United, who have just the one in Arnau Puigmal.
Manchester City have 17 year olds Eric Garcia and Nabil Touaizi, and 16 year old Alpha Richard Dionkou in there, and the youngsters are being called up for a training camp ahead of games later in March.
It’ll be a worrying trend for Spanish clubs if it continues, players of such a young age didn’t used to move away, it’s the slightly older categories which have seen the most movement to England.
Similar concerns have been noted in France and it’s not thought to be all about money. Manchester City have been putting detailed career progression plans to youngsters, showing a big faith and commitment in their development, and even some of the biggest clubs in Spain and France fail to do the same.
Manchester City also have Brahim Diaz in the U19 squad.
