Agent hint at Newcastle United transfer bid amid ‘crazy offers’ admission

Newcastle United have been told what they must do if they want to win the race to sign Portuguese wonderkid Roger Fernandes.

The Magpies are just one of a number of clubs around Europe said to be watching the young winger after he made his senior debut as a 15-year-old in Braga’s Portuguese Super Cup defeat against Sporting in July last year.

Fernandes then made history three months later when he came off the bench with half an hour remaining in a Portuguese Cup tie against Moitense and became the club’s youngest ever goalscorer as the game made its way into its final ten minutes.

Reflecting on that historic strike, then-Braga coach Carlos Carvahal lauded the youngster’s attitude, telling Sky Sports: “It was unbelievable. I know football. This is not normal.

“I asked him the next day, 'Where did you learn this? Who taught you? This is a complex position.'

“He told me that he watched all of Braga's games and when he had been told that he would play as a left winger, he spent all that day watching videos of Galeno (former Braga winger).

“He had studied his movements in the offensive phase, defensive phase and the transition. Wow. At 15 years old, this was something special. The modern young player does not like to watch full games but this boy had done all that he could to learn this position.”

Not content with finding the net in a cup tie, the talented youngster struck his first league goals with a brace in a 6-0 demolition of Arouca in December.

He ended his first season in senior football with a total of 11 appearances across all competitions and has attracted the attention of the likes of Borussia Dortmund and Ajax throughout the campaign.

Newcastle were named as another suitor for the youngster and were reportedly ready to offer up to £17million to bring Fernandes to Tyneside during the summer transfer window.

Spanish giants Atletico Madrid are the latest club said to be readying an offer for the youngster and his agent has confirmed there is significant interest in his client - but has warned any potential buyer any decision on the future of Fernandes will lie with Braga.

He told FootMercato.net: “I have received unusual, we can even say crazy offers, those that prevent you from sleeping, but everything will go through Braga.

“He will only leave Braga when Antonio Salvador (club president) wants to.”