Real Madrid lose to Manchester City in race for 14-year-old prodigy – Romano | OneFootball

Transfer market specialist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Real Madrid are set to miss out on their youth target Cavan Sullivan, as the 14-year-old is on the verge of joining Premier League side Manchester City instead.

“Manchester City are closing in on a deal to sign American wonderkid Cavan Sullivan, deal agreed,” wrote the journalist.

“The 2009-born talent set to join MCFC in the next years from Ph. Union despite Real, BVB, and Bayern interest. City Academy, doing an excellent job on talents,” he added.

Who is Cavan Sullivan?

At just 14 years old, Sullivan showcases his talent on the field for the Union’s Under-17 team, yet his abilities have also caught the attention of Philadelphia Union II, where he participated in preseason matches.

The teenager currently plays for Philadelphia Union and recognizing the potential of this budding starlet, Marlon LeBlanc, coach of the club’s secondary team, acknowledges:

“Cavan is a fantastic young talent, I like to tease him that I’ve never seen a kid get built up as much as I’ve seen Cavan.

He’s so down to earth, all of this extra hype that goes on about him, doesn’t get to his head and I think that’s what is fantastic about him. It’s what also allows him to come into our environment and still be great and still be bold.”

In fact, LeBlanc recently announced plans to integrate Sullivan further into the second team’s setup following the Generation Adidas Cup.

There is a growing sense of belief that the 14-year-old could contribute to the Union’s MLS first team immediately.

Plenty of interest, but City triumph

Real Madrid are constantly on the lookout for the best young talents across the globe. As such, the young Cavan Sullivan had registered on the club’s radars.

Not only Real Madrid though, as Sullivan has garnered considerable attention, with City dubbing him “the best 14-year-old in the world.”

As mentioned by Romano, the teenager was also courted by Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. But it is City who are set to sign him up.

Primarily a left-footed attacking midfielder, Sullivan’s standout qualities lie in his exceptional vision and goal-scoring prowess.

Despite being just 14, Sullivan has already represented the United States at the Under-15 level, leading the team to victory in the Under-15 CONCACAF championship last August, achieving this feat at the age of 13.

Lastly, it is to be noted that despite his eligibility to play for Germany through his German mother, Sullivan has opted to represent the United States of America instead.