Naj Razi an 'exciting prospect' amid Euro giants' interest

Graham Gartland believes Naj Razi is one of the most exciting prospects emerging from within Irish football as the Shamrock Rovers youngster earns apparent interest from some of Europe's leading clubs.

The midfielder, who Gartland coached within the Hoops' youth ranks, was one of the Republic of Ireland's star turns during the summer's UEFA European Under-17 Championships, forming part of a quintet who have emerged from Rovers' academy.

Razi turned 17 on Saturday and two days later, he impressed as he made his first senior start for the newly crowned four-in-a-row SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division champions, who rested their more experienced players for a 0-0 draw at Cork City.

That third league cameo of the season came at a time when his name has featured in gossip columns beyond these shores, with reports that the likes of Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal are all showing interest in him, although the latter trio would have to wait until he turns 18 due to post-Brexit rules.

Speaking on the RTÉ Soccer Podcast, ex-Drogheda United, Longford Town and Shamrock Rovers defender Gartland touched on the speculation regarding major clubs and also spoke highly of Razi's talents, his "excellent" display at Turners Cross and how his boyhood club has shaped his development.

"The club have done everything right by him. He's been on a pro contract. He was on the Transition Year programme a couple of years ago, he's gone through the Ashfield (College) programme as well where he's doing his Leaving Cert, run by Stephen Gray, so the club have done everything to make sure that he can carry on and have a full career ahead of him and he's an exciting prospect," he said.

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