.. . AND THE SEVEN- YEAR- OLD AUSSIE WHO HAS TURNED DOWN BARCELONA
BOLTON were bemused last night to find themselves at the centre of a row that has erupted over a seven-year-old footballer 10,000 miles away in Australia. Panos Armenakas, whose family live in Sydney, is due at the Reebok Stadium next month after his father John met Bolton’s academy head Chris Sulley in Australia. Panos is said to have already been offered — and rejected — a place in Barcelona’s elite junior squad during a trip to Spain and his development has divided coaches and parents Down Under. Branko Culina, director of coaching in New South Wales, said: ‘This young boy should just be left alone to enjoy his football. He doesn’t need to think about a career. At that age, fun should always come first.’ But his father, who sent Barcelona a DVD of his son, claimed: ‘He has exceptional talent. I don’t necessarily want to go overseas with my son, but there is not much for him here in terms of skills development.’ Bolton spokesman Danny Reuben said: ‘Panos’s father spoke to Chris at one of the soccer schools he visited and asked if they could come over if they were to pay their own way. Chris said:“By all means”. ‘He watched Panos and felt that, for such a young boy, he was very good, but it is far too early to say whether he will make it as a professional. He’ll come over next month to see how we go about things.’ Barcelona are said to have funded a month-long trip in January but Bolton, who have seven-year-olds to train at satellite centres in the region, understand that Panos’s visit is part of a family holiday.