Manchester City 'to battle Manchester United, Real Madrid for Gabri Veiga'

Manchester City have reportedly joined the race for in-demand Celta Vigo attacker Gabri Veiga.

The 20-year-old has been in impressive form for his Spanish club during the 2022-23 campaign, scoring nine goals and registering three assists in 28 appearances in all competitions.

Veiga has a contract with the Sky Blues until June 2026, but there is a €40m (£35.4m) release clause in his current deal, and the Spanish club's president Carlos Mourino has admitted that a summer exit is likely.

Mourino has said that he is desperate to keep the youngster at the club, but the buy-out fee means that he is expected to depart ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.

"We don't want to sell Gabri Veiga, but they are going to buy him from us. And we can't do anything there," Mundo Deportivo quotes Mourino as saying.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on March 18, 2023

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"We know some of his offers and it is impossible to reach them. Gabri is a Celta player, he has that feeling. After the game with Espanyol, he went to see Celta B.

"There are several teams behind Gabri. Real Madrid? They haven't asked us, we don't know if they will have called the player. Of the top 10 in the Premier League, four have asked about him.

"For us, and to make it clear, he is not for sale. We have nothing to negotiate with anyone. We refer [interested clubs] to the [release] clause. The decision is Gabri's, he will play wherever he wants."

Manchester United and Arsenal are both believed to be keen to sign him, while Real Madrid are thought to have a long-term interest despite not yet contacting Celta to discuss a possible deal.

According to The Sun, Man City have now joined the race, with Pep Guardiola's side keen to bring him to the Etihad Stadium for the 2023-24 campaign.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola pictured before the match on February 18, 2023

© Reuters

Veiga is expected to have his pick of a number of major clubs this summer, having been one of the most exciting youngsters in Spain's top flight during the 2022-23 campaign.

All nine of the Spaniard's goals this season have come in La Liga, while he has shown his versatility by playing as an attacking midfielder, a central midfielder, a right winger and a centre-forward.

Veiga came through the youth system at Celta, and he has now represented the club on 64 occasions, scoring 10 times and contributing one assist.

Man City could be looking for a replacement for Bernardo Silva this summer, with the Portugal international currently being heavily linked with a move away from the Etihad Stadium.

However, a recent report claimed that the English champions are determined to keep hold of the attacker amid interest from Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.