City all Go for ‘so good’ teenage star from PSG

CITY have confirmed the signing of highly-rated young Frenchman Claudio Gomes.

Gomes has been snapped up on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain after his contract with the French club expired at the end of June.

The defensive midfielder had been training with City’s firstteam squad in America but the Premier League champions decided to wait for his 18th birthday on Monday to avoid the bureaucracy that goes with signing a European player under that age.

And Pep Guardiola has been mightily impressed with what he’s seen from the teenager so far.

“He has been so good, so good,” City’s manager said when asked about Gomes’ contribution in training earlier on in the tour.

Asked whether Gomes will be a part of City’s first-team squad next season, Guardiola said: “My opinion is that at that age you have to play.

“You need minutes, if not with us then with the second team.

“But it could be like what happened with Phil Foden and Brahim Diaz – he could stay with us, because from what we have seen in these days, the impression is good, so good.”

Gomes, who has been likened to Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante, came through the youth ranks at PSG but never made a senior appearance for the Ligue 1 club.

A defensive midfielder, he’s represented France at U16, U17 and U18 levels, making a total of 36 appearances across the three age ranges.

City are believed to have come to an agreement to sign Gomes in January, when they were allowed to start talking to the player as he entered the last six months of his contract.

City assistant Mikel Arteta played a key role in luring the teenager, said to be the best of his generation in the PSG academy, to the Etihad.