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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Glen Williams

Why Rabbi Matondo was at Cardiff City's training base today

Rabbi Matondo sent Cardiff City fans into a mini meltdown on social media on Tuesday.

As ever during the transfer window, supporters are heightened to any potential social media activity, no more so than after watching their club make nine signings at the beginning of the window. They are practically expecting a new arrival every day.

And Matondo did little to quash excitement on Tuesday when he posted on his Instagram a photograph outside Cardiff's academy training base, accompanied by two blue love hearts.

READ MORE : Rabbi Matondo wanted by Scottish giants Celtic and Rangers

Bluebirds fans were quick to jump to conclusions, hoping Matondo had jumped the gun and announced his homecoming prematurely. Unfortunately, that's not why he was there.

He was actually there accompanying his younger brother, Japhet, who had gone in for his education induction for first-year scholars – where they go through the requirements of the course. The academy kids are expected back in for pre-season training later this week.

The 16-year-old, who has been at the club since he was nine years old, is very highly thought of within City's academy, just like his older brother was before he moved to Manchester City. Japhet, a Wales youth international, was included in WalesOnline's five Bluebirds youngsters to watch out for, which you can read here.

Japhet, who can play on both flanks, has attracted interest from elsewhere in recent months, too, with Leeds United, Celtic and Rangers thought to have been monitoring the youngster, who scored three goals in 12 games for the under-18s despite being two years young.

As for older brother Rabbi, well there was perhaps understandable murmurings about a potential move given he has been linked with a number of clubs coming into this window following a positive loan spell to Cercle Brugge, through which he forced himself back into the Wales set-up, away from Schalke.

Coincidentally, both Celtic and Rangers were understood to be eyeing up a move for the Wales international earlier this summer, too.

The former Cardiff youngster racked up 10 goals in 27 games for Cercle Brugge which has seen his stock rise markedly. However, it seems parent club Schalke, who recently completed a return to the Bundesliga, are willing to let the Welshman move on to pastures new in this window.

Cercle were understood to be keen on keeping the winger, while city rivals Club Brugge were also believed to be admirers.

Reports on the continent have previously suggested that the 21-year-old was close to signing on for Anderlecht before Vincent Kompany's departure, while Fulham and Bournemouth have also shown an interest in taking him to the Premier League.

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