By Betsefy
Manchester City are reportedly pushing to sign Las Palmas midfielder Alberto Moleiro.
The 19-year-old came through the youth system at Estadio Gran Canaria and made the breakthrough as a first-team player last season, featuring on 38 occasions in all competitions.
Moleiro, who is a two-time Spain Under-21s international, has also been a key player for his second-tier side this term, featuring on 10 occasions in the league, contributing three assists in the process.
The teenager still has four years left to run on his contract, having only signed an extension in July, but there is currently a host of speculation surrounding his future in Spain.
According to Fichajes, Man City are ‘going with everything’ in a bid to win the race for the midfielder, with the Citizens sending a number of scouts to watch him throughout the 2021-22 campaign.
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The report claims that the English club’s head coach Pep Guardiola has ‘directly’ recommended a move for Moleiro, who has a release clause of €30m (£26.2m) in his current deal.
There has allegedly not yet been an official bid for the youngster, but Las Palmas are expected to lose him at the end of the campaign due to his impressive development.
Over the summer, Moleiro opened up on the speculation surrounding his future, with Barcelona also believed to have considered making an offer for him ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.
“We finished the playoff against Tenerife and I remember that in the following two weeks news about Barca or other teams began to sound. I stand aside and let my agents take [care of] it,” he told Marca.
“I was getting information little by little, but I was very calm. My parents, not so much, because they read a lot of things and didn’t know anything. Being my first summer at a professional level, it was a bit of a shock, but now I’m calm. I have signed four years with Las Palmas and I am very happy.
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“I don’t believe it when I see it, really (interest from Man City and Barcelona). I think it’s fake news, but it’s true that little by little you believe it and that means you’re doing things right. You have to follow the same path.
“I see myself in teams that play with the ball because without the ball I suffer. I can also play without the ball, but it costs me a little more and I think the ideal would be teams where they like to play, I get along well there.”
Moleiro turned out for both Las Palmas B and Las Palmas C before making his first-team debut for the club at the age of 17 in August 2021.
The midfielder played 75 minutes of his side’s 1-0 victory over Ponferradina last time out, and the result has left La Palmas top of the Segunda Division table, as they bid to earn promotion back to La Liga for the first time since 2018.
