Manchester City’s owners are the latest to be credited with an interest in Boca Juniors youngster Leonel Flores. News from Argentina are arriving days after Brighton were also linked with the teenage forward.
The City Football Group are now said to be keeping a close eye on the 19-year-old. This adds another Premier League connection to one of Boca’s fastest-rising academy graduates.
City Group watching closely
Argentine outlet El Intransigente reports the group behind Manchester City are following Flores closely, although there has been no formal approach. Furthermore, the report claims Boca are already preparing for the possibility of an offer arriving in the coming weeks if that interest develops.
It comes shortly after another report in Argentina linked Brighton with the same player. This suggests the striker is starting to attract attention from clubs known for investing heavily in young South American talent.
Another Boca youngster catching attention
Leonel Flores has gone from reserve team standout to first-team option in a matter of months.
After scoring 19 goals and producing five assists in 51 appearances for Boca’s reserves, he has already made his mark at senior level with one goal in his first three matches after Rodolfo Arruabarrena handed him his debut.
His performances have quickly won over supporters, who have started calling for the teenager to receive more minutes. In addition, Arruabarrena has also shown faith in him, and the forward has taken his chance.
The report argues Boca see Flores as one of the club’s biggest assets for the future and are reluctant to lose him before he has fully established himself in the first team.
Boca in no rush to sell
Leonel Flores is under contract until December 2029. This leaves Boca in a comfortable position if interest turns into concrete offers.
The report says Juan Román Riquelme’s stance has not changed. Boca want any sale of one of their top academy products to bring a substantial financial return. They prefer this rather than cashing in too early.
Flores has already received plenty of praise inside Argentina. Earlier this year, Leandro Paredes singled him out as one of Boca’s brightest academy prospects. Meanwhile, his rapid rise has also seen him emerge alongside Tomás Aranda as another youngster attracting attention from abroad.
Whether the City Football Group’s interest goes beyond scouting remains to be seen, but Flores is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about young players to emerge from Boca’s academy this year.
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