Spanish teenage prodigy Ivan Fresneda looks set to leave Real Valladolid this summer, with a trio of European heavyweights battling it out for his signature.
According to reports, Serie A champions Juventus are in pole position to land the 18-year-old right-back in a deal worth €30 million.
Fresneda has caught the eye this season with a string of impressive displays for Real Valladolid, convincing scouts from across Europe that he is a star in the making.
While Arsenal and Real Madrid are rumoured to be keen on the young Spaniard, Juventus appear to have stolen a march on their rivals.
The Italian giants are eager to invest in talented young players as they plan for the future, and see Fresneda as someone who can slot straight into their first team next season.
For Fresneda, a move to Juventus would be hard to turn down. The chance to play for such an illustrious club at the tender age of 18 does not come around often.
He would relish the opportunity to test himself in one of Europe’s top leagues, learning from some of the game’s best defenders. Juventus would not break the bank to sign Fresneda, but €30 million would still represent a club-record sale for Real Valladolid.
They have long anticipated losing their prized asset, aware that his prodigious talent would soon attract admiring glances from bigger clubs.
Fresneda is a dynamic full-back who loves to burst forward and support the attack. Defensively he is solid for one so young, but it is his combative style, energy and technical ability that have really caught the eye.
Ivan Fresneda Attracts Juventus, Real Madrid, Arsenal
juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri would welcome the aggression and attacking flair Fresneda could bring to his team. After relinquishing their Serie A crown to Inter Milan this season, reinforcements are needed.
The race is not over yet, however. Arsenal and Real Madrid remain in contention and may look to drive the price up further. But Fresneda appears tempted by the prospect of a move to Turin.
For a defender with such huge potential, there are few better finishing schools in Europe than Juventus right now. Ivan Fresneda could be the first of many young talents to tread that well-worn path.
