(foto: uradna spletna stran kluba)
Newcastle United signed Spanish starlet Antonio Cordero, fending off interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona. The 18-year-old winger joins on a five-year deal from Malaga.
Newcastle United have pulled off a major coup by signing 18-year-old Spanish talent Antonio Cordero, beating out interest from both Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The highly-rated Malaga winger has already made 40 senior appearances in Spain’s second division, notching six goals and seven assists despite his young age. His performances have drawn comparisons to top La Liga prospects and caught the eye of Europe's elite.
But in a rare move, Cordero opted against joining the traditional Spanish giants. Instead, he signed a five-year contract with Newcastle United, a club increasingly seen as a rising force in Europe and, as La Liga president Javier Tebas once labeled, a ‘national club’ due to its Saudi ownership.
Cordero is represented by Pini Zahavi, one of football’s most powerful agents, who played a key role in steering the young Spaniard to England.
Paul Mitchell, Newcastle’s sporting director, welcomed the signing but revealed that Cordero may not feature immediately in the Premier League: “Antonio is a great talent. We’re delighted he chose Newcastle, despite interest from Spain and across Europe. His potential is huge, and we’ll find the right loan move to help him grow in this next phase.”
The transfer reflects Newcastle’s growing pull in the European talent market, especially as the club builds a strategy focused on acquiring emerging stars before they hit global stardom.
Cordero’s move is also a signal that La Liga’s biggest clubs are no longer unchallenged when it comes to keeping Spain’s top youth talent. Newcastle’s project, resources, and long-term vision are beginning to shift that balance.