Real Madrid sign Brazilian teenager Vinicius

Madrid May 24 (IANS) Record European football champions Real Madrid have announced the signing of Brazilian teenager Vinicius Junior of Flamengo for a reported transfer fee of around 45 million euros ($50.4 million).

The deal will take effect in July next year but the 16-year-old will remain at Flamengo until July 2019 according to a Real Madrid statement on Tuesday.

Real Madrid are said to have beaten off interest in the teenager from a slew of other high-profile suitors including Barcelona Chelsea and Manchester United Xinhua news agency reported

Vinicius made his first-team debut for Flamengo earlier this month. He is tied to the club until 2019 and had a 30 million euro ($33.73 million) release clause written into his contract.

According to media reports in Brazil it was the second-most expensive transfer in Brazilian football history after Neymar s move to FC Barcelona in 2013.

Dubbed as the next Neymar Vinicius has been the standout young player at Flamengo since bursting onto the scene with the under-13 side.

In March 2017 Junior helped Brazil win the Under-17 South American Championship scoring seven goals and being named the tournament s best player.

--IANS
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