Transfer Rumors: Real Madrid Eyeing Aggressive Striker Hinting At Return To Barcelona

Real Madrid is among the top European clubs keeping tabs on a teenage striker honed at Barcelona.

In its first eight La Liga games, Real Madrid has had an impressive run, having won three of the team’s last five matches.

The frontline remains solid with Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior and veteran Luka Modric working hand in hand.

However, Los Blancos are believed to be prepping for the future and have already earmarked a few potential transfer targets. Among them is Bayer Leverkusen’s Iker Bravo, Spanish outlet Fichajes reported.

International Business Times could not independently verify this information.

Bravo left his boyhood club Barcelona for Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen this past summer in the hope to find a quicker way to experience first-team football.

Prior to joining Bayer Leverkusen, an earlier report said the teenager was also on the radar of Eintracht Frankfurt and Serie A sides Juventus and AS Roma.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, is expected to make a swoop for Bravo as the club remains on the lookout for some of the most sought-after young talents to bolster either one of their youth sides or add depth to its senior setup.

As things stand, it appears that the German outfit may have made the right decision in securing the services of the 16-year-old center-forward as he has now been impressing in senior team training sessions.

To date, Bravo has already been featured in five games for Bayer Leverkusen’s Under-19 side, recording an impressive tally of three assists in the process.

However, it was his aggressiveness during his Spain Under-17 call-ups that stood out the most. In four friendlies for the country this year, the football prodigy registered an exceptional seven goals to his name.

Like many youngsters in the past, Bravo began his career at Barcelona Academy, also known as “La Masia.”

But like many before him, he decided to part ways with the Catalans before even graduating from the club’s famed academy.

Despite officially departing Barcelona, Bravo released a heartfelt statement on Instagram, hinting at a possible return to Barca in the future.

“I feel more united than ever to you [Barcelona] and I want to give you all my gratitude,” Bravo wrote. “To leave Barcelona is a great challenge, a big step for a young player like me.”

“My dream is now to continue growing, improve and learn to become a professional footballer,” he continued. “I will recognize the identity and the values ​​that this club has taught me, hopefully, football will allow us to meet again.”