Man City outmaneuver Barça in the hunt for two Sporting Lisbon starlets

Portugal provides some of the best young players in Europe. Barcelona follow the market, but they are not the only big club keeping an eye on academy football in the country. 

Barça's representatives realised as much when they recently turned up at Sporting to watch two players. The Catalan club subsequently spoke with the players' people, but found out that Manchester City had already been in touch and had the rights of both players. 

It's not the only move Barça have made in Portugal, either, gien there are various players at Benfica who have been followed and are being followed with interest by the Blaugrana.