Transfers: City set to complete signings of two future prospects

Manchester City are on the verge of signing La Masia wonderkid Adria Bernabe after he said his goodbyes to Barcelona on Instagram.

According to Albert Roge of Sport, four players will be leaving the famed La Masia academy this summer including Adria Bernabe. The 17 year-old Bernabe joined Barcelona from rivals Espanyol and has been one of the players who looked likely to push into the first team.

Posting on his Instagram, Bernabe wrote, “Today is a hard day since I have to say goodbye to the place I have called home for the last five years. I only have words of thanks for people who have helped me during this time.”

He will hope to develop further under the stewardship of Pep Guardiola, a factor that must have been decisive in moving to Manchester City.

It seems that the manager, the scouting network and Txiki Begiristain have identified a number of prospects for the City youth team and the future. This continues a recent trend at the Etihad of signing some prospects and hopefully a few will break into the first team over the next few seasons.

Another youngster on City’s radar is Sporting CP’s youngster Rafael Leao. Leao is one of many Sporting Lisbon players that have decided to terminate their contracts after they were attacked by a group of ultras towards the end of last season after the club failed to qualify for the Champions League.

Next: Former City stars impress during matchweek one of World Cup

Leao who plays as a striker featured 15 times for Sporting’s B team and scored seven goals and one assist. He has also represented Portugal at most of the youth levels and could prove to be a bargain if he continues developing. Although the fact he isn’t anywhere near Sporting Lisbon’s first team casts doubts over his potential to develop into a world beater.

He could be available on a free but Manchester City are prepared to pay Sporting a transfer fee to avoid any complications that might arise from the player terminating his contract.