Real Madrid target shock Leeds Utd raid with Ancelotti scouts despatched to watch five stars
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Leeds United could find themselves losing a talented young attacker this summer amid claims Real Madrid are keeping a watch on him as one of five potential signings of the future.
The Spanish giants are regarded by many as the world’s biggest club, with some of the top talents in the game turning out at the Bernabeu. Indeed, their tendency for making big-name ‘Galactico’ signings means money is rarely an obstacle in their quest to sign the best.
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However, in recent years Los Blancos have undergone a quest to also sign some of the game’s top young stars. To that end, the likes of Federico Valverde, Rodrygo and Vinicius Jnr have all been signed before becoming household names.
Now it seems Carlo Ancelotti and his scouts are turning their attentions towards the next wave of talented stars.
And according to reports in Spain, Leeds United striker Mateo Joseph is in their sights.
The 19-year-old moved to Leeds in January 2022 from Espanyol. Highly rated, he was also chased at the time by Barcelona.
However, the Santander-born striker opted for Leeds, where he has since featured three times for the first team.
His best work has, though, come for Leeds’ Under-21s side, who he has helped to promotion this season. Captaining the side, he scored 18 times this season as they returned to Premier League 2 at the first time of asking.
That form has seen Joseph, of half English and Spanish descent, called up by England Under-20s, where he has two goals from three appearances.
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Joseph will part of the England squad that is travelling to Argentina to take part in the Under-20 World Cup. England kick-off their campaign with a match against Tunisia Under-20s on Monday evening.
Now reports in Spain claim Real Madrid coaches have been despatched to Argentina to track Joseph’s displays.
In addition to Joseph, Real Madrid are also keeping tabs on four other players at the tournament. And Colombia midfielder Yaser Asprilla, France defender Soumaila Coulibaly, Japan forward Naoki Kumata and Brazilian attacker Marcos Leonardo are also in their sights.
But it seems all eyes are very much on Joseph, who is well known in Spanish circles.
Leeds’ capture of the teenager 18 months ago was seen as something of a coup in the Spanish media. They believe Joseph is destined for a big future in the game, whether that be at Elland Road or elsewhere.
Joseph’s prospects of breaking into the Leeds team next season can be enhanced by a solid showing at the Under-2os World Cup.
England will be among the favourites to win the competition for the second time, having tasted success in 2017.
And the tournament has proved a vital platform to many of the game’s biggest names. Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona and Andres Iniesta are all previous winners of the competition, which has been running since 1977.
Ukraine were the competitions last winners in 2019.
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