Real Madrid Signs 7-Year-Old Leonel Angel Coira, Will Start Training Soon

If you think signing young teenagers to a sports contract or offering middle schoolers scholarships is wrong, this story will set you through the roof.  We all know how serious Real Madrid fans take their team.  Real Madrid is the king of Spain in the football world.  Signing youngsters is no new thing for soccer teams across the world, but how young is too young?  How about 7 years old?

That’s right, Real Madrid recently announced that they have signed a 7-year-old Argentinian boy named Leonel Angel Coira.  No, not signed an autograph for the young boy — signed him to a contract to play soccer for them.  How anyone can think this is a good idea amazes me.

We have all heard stories about children being recruited by colleges like this 13-year-old quarterback, this 8th-grade hoops star, and this 14-year old baller, but if those transactions didn’t cross the line this one has to.  According to club spokesman Juan Tapiador, Coira is going to begin training with the club on September 6.  I hope Real Madrid’s coaches bring lots of candy.

This isn’t about a young boy playing a game.  Playing soccer in Europe — especially for a club like Real Madrid — is a pressure-filled job.  We’re talking about a 7-year-old.  Children that young should be worrying about having fun and learning to count, not making money and training with one of the most elite soccer teams in the world.  Coira’s family is going to make money, but I see no possible way this can benefit him.

Celebratory backflip to Online Sports Guys for the story.