Chelsea are making a huge effort to focus on South American talent under their new ownership, and we’ve seen a number of interesting young players brought into the club in the last two years.
They don’t always have a path to the first team, and few players look as good as they do back in their home league when they make the long trip over to Europe. But the potential is there in all of them, at least to be profitable sales, if not first team starters.
Now according to Globo in Brazil – a major sports network that tends to get these things right – we’re joining Man City in pursuit of another starlet. Right back Pedro Lima is the latest gem to come out of the Sport Recife academy – not one of Brazil’s traditional giants, but a big club nonetheless.
The piece says that Man City scout Audrio Magalhaes went to Recife to watch Lima in action last week – but he wasn’t the only one. Liverpool and Chelsea have also had scouts in place in recent weeks to see the 17 year old play.
Still just a raw talent, there’s a long way to go before he would be ready for a European move – he wouldn’t be allowed until he’s 18, for starters. It also sounds like City have stolen a march on our scouts in this case.
But we’re watching, and if they hesitate, it looks like we’re positioning ourselves to make a bid for the teenage talent just as he establishes himself in the senior game.
