Real Madrid’s 16-year-old wonderkid caught in tug-of-war between Spain and Brazil | OneFootball

According to a fresh report from AS, it has come to light that Real Madrid’s U-16 sensation Bryan Bugarin finds himself at the centre of an international tug-of-war between Spain and Brazil.

The talented youngster, who has just received his first call-up to Spain’s U-16 training camp after previously featuring in three matches for the U-15s, is now on the radar of Brazil’s football federation (CBF) as well.

Interestingly, it was his performance at the Al-Kass U-17 tournament in Qatar that prompted interest from Brazil.

The CBF has reportedly begun efforts to gauge the youngster’s interest in representing Brazil, his mother’s country of origin.

They see him as a potential gem worth investing in, hoping to lure him away from the clutches of La Roja before he commits himself to Spain definitively.

In total demand

For what it is worth, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) appears to be fully aware of Brazil’s advances. Their call-up of Bugarin for the U-16 training camp is seen as a preemptive strike to secure the youngster’s allegiance.

This move marks the second time in just two weeks that the RFEF has taken swift action to counter Brazil’s interest. Earlier, they successfully reinforced Enzo Alves’ commitment to Spain under similar circumstances.

For now, Bugarin, who recently renewed his contract with Real Madrid, has chosen to attend the Spanish camp, indicating a preference towards La Rojita.

While his decision to accept the call-up suggests his leaning towards Spain, the situation remains fluid.

This is because, according to FIFA rules, he can still represent either national team until he makes a senior appearance in an official match.

This story tells us about the fierce competition between nations for dual-nationality players—a battle that has only intensified as football continues to globalise.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, must be observing this drama closely, hoping that Bugarin’s growth and eventual national team commitment will only bolster his profile as a future star.