Barcelona, Real Madrid battle for 17-year-old French prodigy compared to Kylian Mbappe

Barcelona and Real Madrid always have their eyes on the lookout for the next rising talent in football across the globe.

The El Clasico rivals went head-to-head in the race for Pablo Torre, Endrick, and more recently, Arda Guler.

The two clubs are also said to be interested in signing Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez and Girona right-back Arnau Martinez.

And, it appears that another Clasico battle could be on the horizon for a young French prodigy who is making waves in Ligue 1.

Barcelona, Real Madrid in for Eli Junior Kroupi

As per reports in France, as relayed by SPORT, Barcelona and Real Madrid have taken a liking to Lorient teenage wonderkid Eli Junior Kroupi.

The 17-year-old is a product of the Lorient academy and made his first-team debut in the final game of the last season.

In the ongoing campaign, the young forward, who can play on the left flank or through the middle, or even as a central attacking midfielder, has become a regular in the side.

Kroupi has featured in eight of Lorient’s nine Ligue 1 matches this term (five starts), producing a return of three goals and two assists.

The 17-year-old stands at almost 1.80m tall, possesses great ground speed and is a versatile operator, leading to comparisons with PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe in France.

Contract until 2026

Kroupi’s market value as per the Transfermarkt portal stands at €8 million.

However, the young attacker has a contract with Lorient that runs until the summer of 2026, having signed an extension in August earlier this year.

So, if Barcelona or Real Madrid were concretely interested in his services and were to make a move, it would likely take a significant fee to sign the young French prodigy.

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