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Kayky: the Brazilian football prodigy on his way to Manchester City

13-May-2021 12:52:03 | The Guardian

Kayky is breaking records in Brazil and preparing to move to England, but playing football was not always his dream

By Josué Seixas and Tom Sanderson for Yellow & Green Football

Kayky is one of the hottest properties in Brazilian football. The 17-year-old signed for Manchester City last month and will join up with his new teammates next January after he finishes the season with Fluminense. He has already made his mark in Brazil, scoring goals for Fluminense in the Rio state championships, and becoming the club’s youngest debutant and youngest goalscorer in the Copa Libertadores.

The transfer marks a shift in approach for the Premier League champions. Manchester City are now going down the Real Madrid route of snapping up young talents from Brazil before they have fully developed. The club have also signed 18-year-old midfielder Diego Rosa – who is currently on loan at Lommel, City’s sister club in Belgium – and the U17 World Cup-winning right-back Yan Couto, who has been sent on loan to Girona, another club under the City umbrella. While Real Madrid paid £40m to sign Vinicius Jr and £39m for Rodrygo, City seem to have pulled off a bargain, handing over an initial £8m for Kayky, with add-ons depending on how he progresses.