Arsenal are tracking NK Kustosija youngster Rafael Belinho, though they’ll have to wait until the midfielder turns 18 to sign him.
James McNicholas reports for The Athletic that Arsenal are among the clubs following the progress of Rafael Belinho as part of their plan to identify and track the best young talent.
The 17-year-old Brazilian currently plays for NK Kustosija in Croatia, and he also has a Croatian passport.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t help Arsenal much, as an EU passport doesn’t allow you the freedom to sign for a British club anymore. So unlike interested clubs from mainland Europe, the Gunners have to wait until Belinho turns 18.
McNicholas points out that this could be a problem, as there’s likely to be considerable competition for the signing around Europe.
Arsenal would have had the chance to watch Belinho playing in England briefly earlier this season, as he made an appearance for GNK Dinamo II in the Premier League International Cup against Nottingham Forest’s u21s.
Belinho then opted to leave GNK Dinamo to join NK Kustosija in the January transfer window, with the club promising him that he’ll be part of their first-team preparations for the return of Croatian football next month.
“I made the decision to make a change at this time in order to continue my further development,” Belinho wrote on Instagram. “[GNK Dinamo] have played an important role in my sports and personal journey and I am grateful for everything I learned and experienced here.
“I wish the club great success in the future, and I’m leaving motivated and ready for new challenges.”
Arsenal will presumably be in the mix of clubs interested in signing Belinho if he’s still with NK Kustosija next January, which is when he turns 18. But if the player wants another transfer this summer, the Gunners would have to convince him to wait six months to complete his move.
It wouldn’t be the first time Arsenal have made such an agreement in recent times, with Victor Ozhinavuna and Edwin and Holger Quintero agreeing to sign once they reach 18. But it’s always a tougher sell than offering immediate minutes now.