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The Spanish influx at Liverpool continues, albeit with a slight African twist and possibly a little bit of Luis Figo thrown in there as well.

It might have begun with Rafa Benitez's spell in charge at Anfield , but it has long since continued from the top to the bottom of the club. This summer, full-backs Alberto Moreno and Javier Manquillo have arrived from Sevilla and Atletico Madrid respectively, while last year it was Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto walking in the door.

And the latest to check in is Spain Under-18 international Madger Antonio. The 17-year-old has been signed from La Liga side Villarreal and has already began training with the Reds' youth teams - although, due to requiring international clearance, there could be a short wait until he can pull on a shirt for a competitive match.

Born in Alicante in 1997, the attacking midfielder will have no memory of Spain's penalty shootout defeat against England at Wembley in 1996. It's even difficult to believe he knows too much about the player he has drawn comparisons with in recent years – Portuguese legend Figo. In a recent interview he listed him among his idols, though, along with Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.

Left-footed and able to play in any of the advanced midfield positions - left, right or centrally - or as a striker, Madger, like so many Spanish youth internationals in the current era, is tipped to have a bright future in the game.

(Image: @madger7)

Just shy of 5'10" he isn't your stereotypical Spanish play-maker - think David Silva and Juan Mata types - but that can be explained by his origin. His parents are from Guinea-Bissau and he's a taller, more rangy footballer, which is where the comparisons with Figo have been drawn. He's been noted for his physical strength in Spain, while he can handle the ball well and is not afraid to shoot from distance.

Villarreal had been keen to keep him away from Liverpool, although with just a year to run on his youth contract their hand was, in the end, forced. Madger had made just one appearance for the club's B team, a two minute cameo back in November, and it is understandable that he thought his career would be better served on Merseyside.

Not least because of the Spanish friends he already has there. Last summer, Liverpool swooped for two other Spanish teenagers who also boast a 1997 birth date: Sergi Canos and Pedro Chirivella.

Canos, a forward, arrived from Barcelona, while holding midfielder Chirivella was poached away from Valencia. Both are familiar with Madger from Spain's youth teams.

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Upon their arrival, despite pressing their talent, Liverpool youth coach Neil Critchley was keen to explain how difficult it is for these youngsters to adapt to their new surroundings. It takes time, was his point, and you shouldn't expect anything too soon.

“I couldn't imagine myself moving country at 16-years-old,” he said. “It does take a year to adjust to life here. They are used to a certain style of football and a different culture. It is totally different here."

He was referring to Canos and Chirivella at the time, but the same will go for Madger. You only have to look as far as Suso to see how difficult it is to make the grade at Liverpool. A more typical Spanish midfielder, Suso, now 20, first broke into the team around the same time as Raheem Sterling. However, his development has not been as fast and, after a season on loan at Almeria, he sits on the fringes of the first team.

That just goes to show how tough, despite the undoubted talent, Madger's task to succeed at Anfield will be. If just one of him, Canos or Chirivella become the player they're tipped to become, that would be enough to justify the stream of Spanish arrivals into Liverpool's academy.

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