Official: Real Madrid academy gem leaves club for Portuguese giants | OneFootball

Paulo Iago has left Real Madrid to sign for Sporting CP, the Portuguese club have officially announced today.

“Paulo Iago is the latest signing from Sporting Clube de Portugal’s youth academy. The 17-year-old midfielder used to play for the Spanish club Real Madrid CF, where he played for the last decade, since 2014, and will now begin his first adventure abroad with the green and white B team,” the statement from them read.

Iago, widely regarded as one of the best youth prospects at Real Madrid’s academy, La Fabrica, had a falling out with Juvenil A manager Alvaro Arbeloa due to a lack of opportunities in the last season.

Iago had offers from clubs in Germany and Italy, but has opted to sign for Sporting instead, where he will link up with their B team as per the statement.

While the transfer had been agreed during the summer transfer window itself, it had not been made official due to some bureaucratic issues.

With the move, Iago brings to an end a ten-year-long association with Real Madrid.

Taking to social media to pen a farewell, Iago wrote: “I want to thank Real Madrid for giving me the opportunity to play in their youth academy, where I spent ten happy years of my life.

“I arrived as a six-year-old boy, with the hope of going far in this club, and I am leaving at 17 and somewhat disappointed at not seeing that dream come true. As much as it pains me to say it, it is the truth.”