Real Madrid have signed a seven-year-old Argentine boy, a spokes-man for the Spanish club confirmed yesterday.

Leonel Angel Coira, who has lived in Spain for the past three years, “will start training with the children’s team on September 6,” the spokesman, Juan Tapiador, told AFP.

In an interview with Argentine sports daily Ole last week, Leonel said he hoped to make Real’s first team one day – even though his idol is Lionel Messi, star of Real’s arch-rivals Barcelona.

His father Miguel, who is the coach of a small team in the Madrid suburbs, told the Spanish newspaper ABC that Leonel had signed a one-year contract that can be renewed but will receive no salary.

From the age of 16 he can play in the first team.