Real Madrid have strong interest in 16-year-old Belgian midfield wonderkid | OneFootball

As part of their new recruitment strategy in the past few years, Real Madrid are always alert to any exciting young footballers making waves across the globe.

This strategy has reaped the club great rewards and the Spanish capital giants continue to track youth talents with great promise.

It has seen Los Blancos make moves to sign teenage prodigy Leny Yoro of LOSC Lille and River Plate’s 16-year-old wonderkid Franco Mastantuono.

Now, it appears that another young talent has popped up on the radars of the reigning champions of Spain and Europe.

Indeed, according to a report from Sport24, Real Madrid have taken a serious interest in 16-year-old midfield prodigy Konstantinos Karetsas, who plays for KRC Genk.

Who is Konstantinos Karetsas?

Karetsas, 16, is a Belgian attacking midfielder who began his youth career at Genk. The young talent left his boyhood club to join the Anderlecht academy in 2020 but returned in January 2023.

Despite being only 16 years old, Karetsas has already made 20 appearances for Genk’s reserve team, scoring six goals and setting up five more.

Konstantinos Karetsas (L) on Real Madrid’s radar. (Photo by JOHAN EYCKENS/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

The teenage wonderkid, who can play as a No. 10 or a central midfielder, has also broken into the Belgian outfit’s senior setup, racking up four appearances in which he has one assist.

A player of Greek origin, Karetsas has opted to represent Belgium at the international level and is currently a part of their Under-17 setup.

Real Madrid closely watching

Karetsas’ potential has alerted a number of top clubs across Europe, with Real Madrid understood to have taken a keen interest in the 16-year-old.

Indeed, as per the report, Real Madrid have been watching the youngster for a long time but of late, have been doing so more intensively.

The teenager’s current contract with Genk is understood to run until 2026 and the Belgian club are in the process of negotiating an extension.

But the interest from Real Madrid and other top European clubs could prove to be a tempting opportunity for the 16-year-old Karetsas.