Monaco sign Barcelona’s Robert Navarro a year after snapping up Jordi Mboula from La Masia

Monaco have signed highly-rated Barcelona midfielder Robert Navarro a year after prising promising youngster Jordi Mboula away from La Masia.  

Navarro turned 16 in April, making him eligible to confer with other clubs and speculation had been gaining traction that Arsenal and Manchester City were keeping tabs on the teenager, but he has now secured a five-year contract with the Ligue 1 outfit.

The talented tyro has become the latest player to part company with the esteemed Catalan academy, with Jordi Mboula relocated to the French Riviera last year.

Navarro has now followed in similar fashion and will immediately join Les Monegasques’ Under-19 squad ahead of the forthcoming season.

Navarro expressed his delight, according to Marca, at signing for his new club: “AS Monaco is a great club that relies heavily on its training and gives young people the chance to express themselves at the highest level.

“My goal is to work hard to move forward and take new steps.”

L’AS Monaco est heureux d’annoncer l’arrivée de Robert Navarro en provenance du @FCBarcelona !

➡ https://t.co/DM7RmDUFVG pic.twitter.com/wB3OqufNPM

— AS Monaco (@AS_Monaco) July 2, 2018

The Spain Under-16 international has become the fourth 16-year-old to put pen-to-paper at the Stade Louis II after Leonardo Jardim’s side recruited Tiago Ribeiro and Eliot Matazo from Porto and Anderlecht respectively, while Willem Geubbels was signed from Lyon for £18m.

Navarro’s transfer will not include a transfer fee, but the club will be entitled to developmental rights, and since making his move last summer Mboula managed three first team appearances in Ligue 1, scoring one goal.

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