Real Madrid Join Race For Paraguayan Starlet Juan Iturbe

Real Madrid are the latest club to be linked with a move for 16-year old Juan Iturbe, and are making plans to bring the youngster to the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.

The Paraguayan, who currently plays with Cerro Porteno in his homeland, has only recently broken into his club’s first team, but is set to be capped at under-20 level despite his tender age.

However, a number of major sides across Europe have been linked with Iturbe, including  Tottenham and Italian giants Roma.

Spanish publication AS comments that Los Blancos have also expressed an interest in the cultured attacker, who want to bring him to their Castilla side and develop him for the future.

Scouting reports on Iturbe have been impressive, but coach Manuel Pellegrini faces a fight to land his signature, with both Roma and Tottenham currently featuring a number of young foreigners in their youth squads, and have pinpointed Iturbe as the next major South American star.

After the extravagant spending during 2009, president Florentino Perez wants the club to build for the future, and Itrube could become part of that plan.