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It's not often that you can venture to another footy news website and see Juventus associated with a move for an American player. It's even less of an occurrence that Juve are linked with a move for an American that is just old enough to be eligible to get his driver's license.
On Friday, there was something of the latter. Who knows about the status of the kid's driver's license, though.
ESPN has reported that Beppe Marotta, Fabio Paratici and the rest of the Juventus front office are attempting to sign talented 16-year-old American defender Erik Palmer-Brown, who has been tipped for big things by those in the know here stateside.
Industry sources told ESPN FC that the Italian giants are making progress in their attempts to prise the promising defender away from the MLS champions after having a reported $1 million bid rejected last month.
Palmer-Brown, just 16, is regarded a future star for the U.S. national team with the potential to be a top-flight centreback or full-back who's blessed not only with size but excellent feet.
The teen is already a fixture of the U.S. national team program at youth level and became the youngest current player in MLS when he signed with his hometown club last August.
He's been part of the Sporting KC Academy since he was 13 and turns 17 in April.
I mean, when a 16-year-old kid is referred to as a "future star," your intrigue goes up a notch or two, right? I know mine did. The same may be true about you, too.
What does Palmer-Brown think of a possible move to Juventus? This is what he had to say about it a little while ago:
"I'm not really sure what's going on," Palmer-Brown told the Kansas City Star in January when news of Juventus' interest first surfaced. "It would be cool if it's true, but I'm really happy to be here and happy to be with Sporting.
"It's really cool, but I'm still young. I'm still developing my game. I'm glad to be here at home with the MLS Cup [winners]."
It is pretty cool, kid.
