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Vinicius Junior Has Just Become The Most Expensive Player Born This Century

Vinicius Junior Has Just Become The Most Expensive Player Born This Century

He's moved for an incredible amount of money!

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

At 16 I was spending most of my time ignoring GCSE revision and coursework and filling that time by playing FIFA and Football Manager. I was not breaking all sorts of transfer records signing for Real Madrid.

I'm sure there are plenty of differences between myself and Vinicius Junior but the main one I can think about is where we are in our lives at aged just 16 considering he's just signed for Real Madrid.

Brazilian Junior has been chased by some of Europe's biggest clubs and earlier this year it was thought that Barcelona might have the jump on their fierce rivals Real in the hunt to sign him.

Could he be the next Neymar? Image: PA

However that has not come to pass with Los Blancos today announcing that they have been successful in signing the teenage forward from Flamengo for a record fee for someone born this millennium.

Junior was born 12 July 2000, making him just a month older than Manchester United's latest headline maker Angelo Gomes, and has just signed for Real for an incredible £39 million.

Yeah, he's a bit good!

That makes him the most expensive ever 16 year old, beating Theo Walcott's former record by a long way. The Arsenal forward moved from Southampton for £12.5 million in 2006.

On top of that Junior has also become the most expensive player born in this century. Junior can't move to the Bernabeu till he turns 18 in July 2018 so will stay in Brazil for now.

The clubs have actually agreed that he will stick with his current side until 2019 unless there is a change of heart from Real and Flamengo allow him to join up with his new team early.

neymar
neymar

Real hoped to sign Neymar when he was at Santos but missed out to Barcelona. Image: PA

The much sought after forward only made his debut for his current team in May's Campeonato Brasileiro 1-1 draw against Atletico Mineiro. The 'new Neymar' has been referred to as 'the pearl of Brazil's football.'

It's believed that Real were desperate to wrap up a deal for the youngster as early as possible in order to make sure they didn't miss out on the next big thing to Barcelona as they did with Neymar.

Remember the name everyone!

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