In a recent interview conducted in Spain, Kylian Mbappé reaffirmed a lifelong dream — to play for Real Madrid. His words reflect the global admiration for the historic club, one that transcends borders and unites fans from all corners of the world.
Many regard Real Madrid as the pinnacle of football excellence, and for players like Mbappé, representing the club is a dream come true.
Interestingly, Mbappé isn’t the only young talent drawn to the Spanish giants. Konstantinos Karetsas, a highly-rated 16-year-old playing for Genk, also holds Spain’s football powerhouses in high esteem.
Although he was born in Belgium, Karetsas represents Greece at the youth international level and is already being hailed as one of Europe’s most exciting prospects.
What makes Karetsas stand out isn’t just his talent but his clarity regarding future ambitions. In a recent statement, he praised the Spanish league as the best in the world and revealed his aspiration to one day play for either Real Madrid or Barcelona.
He didn’t indicate a clear favorite, saying, “I dream of Barcelona or Real Madrid, I have no preference.” This suggests a future rivalry between the two La Liga giants for his signature. However, for now, the young midfielder remains focused on his development. “Let me prove myself at Genk first,” he added.
Should the two Spanish powerhouses pursue Karetsas, it could trigger another intense transfer battle similar to those of the past. One notable example is Brazilian prodigy Endrick, whom Barcelona believed was destined to join them. Despite their confidence, Endrick chose Real Madrid, leaving Barça to fall back on Vitor Roque — a move that was seen more as damage control than genuine satisfaction.
History shows that Real Madrid has often had the upper hand in these tug-of-war scenarios. Another case was that of Arda Güler. Barcelona had gone to great lengths to secure the Turkish wonderkid, with Deco himself intervening. Despite their efforts, Güler opted for Madrid, leaving their Catalan rivals disappointed once again.
As Karetsas continues to rise, it remains to be seen whether he will follow in the footsteps of talents like Endrick and Güler by donning the famous white jersey, or if Barcelona can finally turn the tide in this ongoing recruitment rivalry.
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