Manchester City are reportedly the latest to join the race for the signature of Italian wonderkid from Benfica, Cher Ndour.
The 18-year-old midfielder, currently one of the hottest prospects in Europe, is featuring prominently on the radars of Erik ten Hag’s Man United, PSG, Serie A giants Juventus and AC Milan ahead of a potential move in this summer’s transfer window.
The teen sensation had come through the youth ranks in his native Italy at Atalanta before moving on to Benfica at the age of 16 in 2020. Ndour made a presence for himself when he shone for Benfica’s B team – becoming the youngest player to ever play for them at the age of 16 years and 269 days – beating the previous record set by the club’s former star and current Chelsea loanee, Joao Felix.
The Benfica lad has also represented Italy at youth level up to the Under-20 side and made his first senior appearance for Benfica back in March.
It is alleged, according to The Sun, that while City are keen to recruit senior stars in midfield over the summer, they are also maintaining a keen eye on future developments and hence see the 18-year-old as a part of that. Ndour enjoys a comparison with his childhood idol Paul Pogba but is somehow not keen to return to Italy to link up with the French World Cup winner and former Manchester United prodigal at Juventus.
The report adds that the 6ft-3in-Ndour has been keenly monitored by City scouts while in action for both his club side and Italy Under-20s and is set to be out-of-contract in the summer, with only a training compensation fee payable to both Benfica and Atalanta if a club was to sign him, thus making an acquisition irresistibly appealing.
Ndour – with a tendency to play in central midfield despite being also adept in a more attacking role – has racked up 26 appearances for the Azurri’s youth sides from Under-15 to Under-20 level and is regarded as one of the best young starlets in Europe.
The midfielder has featured 56 times in total for Benfica’s B side – who play in the second tier of Portuguese football – scoring five times and adding one assist.