Why Barcelona could miss out on 14-year-old wonderkid Gui Ruck amid rival interest from Crystal Palace - explained

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona had initially attempted to lure Ruck to their famed La Masia academy. However, their failure to present a formal offer has seemingly squandered their opportunity to secure his services. Instead, Ruck and his family recently embarked on a trip to England, hinting at his inclination towards accepting one of the proposals from the Premier League clubs.

Although Ruck, who is currently 14, would be unable to relocate to England until he turns 18 due to post-Brexit regulations, Palace and Forest have chalked out an alternative blueprint to promote his development until he becomes an adult.

Palace, owned by John Textor, could potentially send Ruck to Lyon, another club which shares the same ownership as the Premier League outfit. Similarly, Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis have alternative investments in Olympiacos and Rio Ave in Greece and Portugal, respectively - which could be the next home for the player until he attains the work permit to play in England.

Apart from Barcelona, Real Madrid were also keen on Ruck and had been monitoring his progress with the Valladolid youth teams. However, they subsequently cooled down their interest and shifted focus to other targets.

Ruck has been honing his skills in Europe from just seven at Vitoria de Guimaraes and Sporting de Braga in Portugal. At Braga, he scored a whopping 87 goals in a season which helped him draw attention from the European elites.

For Ruck, the next phase of his career promises to be pivotal, with the allure of Premier League football and the prospect of honing his skills under the tutelage of top-tier coaches presenting tantalising opportunities. Nonetheless, if he continues on the same path of progress, Barcelona and Real Madrid can break the bank for the youngster in the future.