Claudio Nancufil - Snow Messi? An unlikely headline grips the football world

The ‘Snow Messi’

He is all of eight years old, and seemingly looks like Lionel Messi. But that isn’t all – scouts are raving about his footwork and clubs are eager to catch a scent of his magical skills. Big clubs at that – La Liga giants Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have all reportedly signed up to fly the little boy to Spain to see the proclaimed lad in action. It is an amazing story of a young kid, whose greatest Christmas dreams might struggle to come close to the reality that is dancing at the feet of Claudio Gabriel Nancufil.

El Confidencial, a Madrid publication, is reporting that Nancufil could be in Spain as early as the new year. The eight year old is an Argentine kid who is honing his craft in Bariloche, a ski resort that lies nearly 1650 km southwest of Buenos Aires. Nancufil has an eerie resemblance to Messi and has caught the attention of European agents through his skillful sorcery, weaving the football in knots around his incredibly nimble feet.

San Carlso de Bariloche is abuzz with the stories about the little hero who has captured the attention of the football world and the press is descending on the small town to get a glimpse of the boy. Nancufil is a junior player with Martin Guemes, a small club in the snow decked resort town. Marcelo Ernalz, the club president, has apparently confirmed that a leading Spanish agency has visited town to meet with the family for early discussions on a probable deal.

According to Ernalz, it is said that Manuel Otero has held parleys with the boy’s family about a possible deal to represent the little magician. Otero is an agent with Suenos Comunicaciones, an agency based in Barcelona who normally deal with artists and musicians. The child it seems is also an artist in his own right, albeit with the ball. The Buenos Aires Herald is reporting that there is an equal amount of eagerness and interest from Argentine club River Plate, Serie A giant AC Milan as well as Manchester United and Chelsea from the Premier League.

In an online report published by the Buenos Aires Herald today, Otero is quoted to have confirmed that the boy shall travel to Europe in the new year. “After the Christmas holidays, ‘Claudito’ (little Claudio) will go to try out with these three Spanish teams and then we’ll see what each of them offers us,” Otero is reported to have told them.

It further added, “we’ve had an invitation from River Plate for him to train for a week with them, (the family) are not closing any doors and England could also be a great destination for the player.” Incredibly, Otero goes on to say that Nancufil could be featured in a BBC documentary, apparently in the works ahead of the World Cup next year.

“The BBC is preparing documentaries in the run-up to the World Cup in Brazil and with Argentina they want to unite the past, present and future,” Otero apparently told. “For this, they plan to bring together Diego Armando Maradona, Lionel Messi and Claudio Nancufil and with the participation of (World Cup-winning coaches Cesar Luis) Menotti and (Carlos) Bilardo.” Tall company for a boy who is still a few long years from adolescent indulgences.

As all eyes converge on this pocket sized prodigy, we will have to wait and watch in the coming years to see if he can indeed fulfil these prophecies by growing up into an adult footballer with the world at his feet. Meanwhile, the interest around his potential and his beguiling skills with the football have the world captivated by the strings of his breathtaking magic.

Here is a video of the young boy in action -