Bozhidar Kraev, the hugely talented 17-year-old Bulgarian attacking midfielder, is set to have a trial at Manchester City. The teenager, who has played only a handful of senior games for Levski Sofia in A Group, the Bulgarian top flight, is considered one of the world’s finest young players and is interesting a host of other clubs, with Juventus also having invited him to train with them. Kraev will go to Italy next week and is then expected to travel to Manchester.
Kraev’s current contract with Levski expires next summer. The 26-times Bulgarian champions have offered him a new three-year deal but are in need of money and would accept an offer if it met their valuation of the player.
The Levski coach and sporting director, Georgi Ivanov, said this week: “City wants him for a seven-day trial whereas Juventus offers him three days of training. And he will go. Of course, we should not take this as a granted contract, but it is a positive signal for Kraev’s progress.”
The final matches of the A Group are played this weekend. There is then a winter break until February.
Kraev is now represented by the Stellar Group, the agency whose other footballers include Gareth Bale, Luke Shaw and City’s Joe Hart.
Hristo Stoichkov is one of many observers who have been impressed by Kraev’s talents. “He is best when he is dribbling at speed. But I especially appreciate his unselfishness and willingness to play for the team,” the former Bulgaria star said.
As a youngster Kraev was at Stoichkov’s Vilafranca academy in Spain before he joined the Etropole academy back in Bulgaria. Spas Dzhevizov, the director, said: “Talents like him are born once in a decade. He is a complete player already, with excellent ball control, vision and unique passing ability.”
