PROMISING young goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina is set to snub Chelsea in favour of a move to Real Madrid.
The Blues had been keen on Slonina, 18, who plays in the MLS for Chicago Fire.
But Slonina’s agent, Jaime Garcia, has confirmed the teenager has his heart set on a move to Real Madrid.
He told MLSsoccer: “It should be an honour for Chicago, and the MLS, to have Real Madrid take notice in one of their players.
“We are hoping Chicago can find an agreement with Real Madrid to realise Gabriel’s dream of playing for this club.”
Chelsea are one of a number of other teams interested in the USA U20 international.
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Elsewhere in the Premier League Wolves and Southampton are said to be admirers of the keeper.
But Garcia admitted his client “cannot say no” to a move to 14-times champions of Europe Real Madrid.
He said: “With respect to other clubs and other offers [which] we’ve received many, and at the moment we are gracious to those clubs but you cannot say no to Real Madrid.”
Real Madrid are said to have had an opening bid rejected for the stopper, according to MLSsoccer.
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Chicago are expecting a second offer for Slonina, who has started all 14 games for the club this season and kept five clean sheets.
Slonina is reportedly regarded as a player for the future and is unlikely to rival Thibaut Courtois for his first-team place right away given the Belgian’s Champions League heroics.
He was called up to Poland’s senior men’s squad in May for their Nations League fixtures this month due to holding dual Polish and American citizenship.
But Slonina rejected the offer and pledged his international future to the USA.
