La Liga giants Real Madrid circling around Rovers sensation Razi
Real Madrid are among the leading European and English clubs monitoring the progress of Shamrock Rovers wonderkid Naj Razi.
The attacker only turned 17 at the weekend, meaning a move to the UK is off-limits for another year, but he could join the flock of Irish teens venturing onto the continent to take their next step on the professional circuit.
Tallaght native Razi is a tricky winger who impressed for Colin O’Brien’s Ireland at the summer Under-17 Euros in Hungary.
He is expected to make his sixth first-team appearance for the Hoops today when they face Cork City in their first match since completing a four-in-a-row of titles on Friday by winning the top-of-the-table clash at St Patrick’s Athletic.
Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea have also been watching Razi’s development closely.
Rovers boss Stephen Bradley was a Gunners apprentice before operating as the club’s Irish scout before going all in at Rovers and senior talent spotters from Arsenal recently visited Dublin to watch the tyro first-hand.
Similar to other Irish products who have ended up across the European leagues, such as James Abankwah, Festy Ebosele (both Udinese) and Glory Nzingo (Stade Reim), Razi is signed to a prominent UK agency with extensive network around the continent.
Sam Curtis is another League of Ireland product utilising that route.
Formerly part of the Rovers stable, his shock move to St Pat’s in 2021 was vindicated as he’s ascended to regular for club and Ireland’s Under-21s since. He is due to sign off his stint at the club with an FAI Cup appearance against Bohemians on November 12.
The defender has spent time on trial in the Netherlands and Germany but the UK market will shortly open up under Brexit rules.
“Sam turns 18 in
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