Serbia Under-16 striker Aleksandar Isailovic has rejected an offer to move to Manchester City in favour of joining Benfica.
The teenage hitman was being tracked by several sides and he has been attracting the interest from scouts with his performances in youth football.
A number of Premier League clubs have been keeping tabs on him and Manchester City showed interest in taking him to England.
Isailovic is set to make his first big career move soon, but Manchester City are not going to be the beneficiaries as Benfica have won the race to sign him.
According to Portuguese sports daily O Jogo, he has signed a three-year contract with Benfica with an option for two more years and will be looking to further develop in Portugal.
Pep Guardiola’s brother Pere Guardiola, who is also an agent, was claimed to be leading Manchester City’s attempts to seduce the youngster into an England move.
But Benfica have managed to outmanoeuvre the Premier League champions and beaten the Citizens to the post for Isailovic.
The Serbian will play for the Benfica age group sides before the club take a decision on promoting him to the senior squad.
