The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Was ‘mad’ to leave Posh for Crystal Palace
The Posh hierarchy believe teenage forward Adler Nascimento has lost the plot after leaving the Weston Homes Stadium for Premier League Crystal Palace.
On the surface it’s a dream move for a 16 year-old who only made his Football League debut in the final Posh match of last season at Doncaster Rovers.
But Posh co-owners Darragh MacAnthony and Dr Jason Neale disagree.
Dr Neale said: “With a stated goal of generating three Academy graduates for the first team every year by 20242025 any kid leaving Posh now is mad.
“We had two graduates last year and we will have two this year. With category two Academy status and the coaches we have since recruited and an
Under 23 programme we can only get better.”
MacAnthony added: “Adler is a really talented player. We had great plans for him, but unfortunately his agent and his parents saw his future away from the club.
“There’s nothing we could do to stop him going. They are the rules.
“My message to the next Adler would be: ‘We are famous for playing teenagers. Surely it’s better to be playing in front of a crowd rather than at an empty training ground, and then going out on loan and then coming back to the empty training ground again’?”
Posh can expect to receive around £500k from Palace who ironically were not one of the 12 top-flight clubs to enquire about Nascimento. Six of those clubs made bids with a top offer of £400k, believed to be from West Ham United.
Posh director Barry Fry became exasperated with the number of clubs who have ben chasing the player non-stop since the end of last season.
Posh wanted Nascimento to stay at London Road and sign a professional contract on his 17th birthday.
But until that happened the player was fair game for Premier League predators who promptly made their move.
Fry said: “It’s been a nightmare dealing with this. We wanted Adler to stay, but his agent and parents wanted him to move on and we couldn’t do a lot about it.
“We can ask for compensation of any amount, but whether we get it or not is another matter.
“But I am confident we will be compensated properly. It won’t be an issue because the club we are dealing with is a good one and one we have a good relationship with after the business we did together regarding Dwight Gayle. It will be settled quickly.”
Nascimento is the second Academy star to depart Posh for the Premier
League this summer.
Attacking midfielder Flynn Clarke (19) declined to sign a new Posh contract so was sold to Norwich City after just 11 first-team appearances.
Posh picked up around £750k for Clarke.
“Flynn Clarke would have played Championship football for us this season,” MacAnthony added.
“A good agent is vital for a young player, one who puts playing ahead of money. I’ve seen too many players at the age of 21 who are lost because they made the big move too early.
“We will get as much as we can for Adler. We are asking for more than the highest bid we turned down and we will get it.”
The fact Posh now have an Academy 2 status offers greater protection when bigger clubs move in on the young talent at the club. Posh will compete in an under 23 League next season against fellow Academy 2 clubs.