Manchester City are reportedly set to complete the signing of teenage midfielder Adrià Bernabe from Barcelona.
The prodigy’s contract with the Spanish club runs down in June. He is represented by former Barcelona players Carles Puyol and Ivan De la Peña, who have already informed the Camp Nou outfit that the teenager will not sign a new deal, reports Sport.
Bernabe’s move to the Etihad will see Espanyol receive a training fee, who are his former club. He joined the Spanish giants’ famous La Masia academy from local rivals Espanyol in 2013.
His move to Barcelona didn’t go down well with Espanyol. Former Spain international Jordi Lardín was the youth football coordinator at Estadi Cornellà-El Prat then and was critical about the La Liga winners’ attitude. He was also unhappy with Bernabe’s representatives, when they lost him in 2013.
Lardin had even urged the Spanish Football Federation, La Liga and the AFE to investigate into the matter. Espanyol offered him terms to continue at the club, but Bernabe’s representatives rejected the offer in order to join Barcelona.Now, the Blaugrana are at the receiving end as the 16 year old has decided against agreeing to Barcelona’s terms and now looks set for Manchester City.
Sport claims “history repeated itself” as Bernabe edges closer to the Premier League club.
