US News

WHAT A KICK! SOCCER TEAM PAYS 195G FOR 12-YEAR-OLD

A premier pro soccer team is shelling out up to $195,000 to snare the sport’s hottest new prospect – a 12-year-old boy.

Millions of soccer fans were stunned by yesterday’s deal for young Daniel Rowe, who already has six years in cleats as a top player for a youth-league team. Fans were startled not only by the boy’s age, but by the high price powerhouse English team Manchester United was willing to pay for an amateur who won’t be able to turn pro for five years.

But deep-pocketed ManU, as the first-place team is known, is known for collecting the best soccer players in the country without regard to cost.

Daniel, from Preston, an hour north of Manchester, was a standout player for the Preston North End youth team – a pro training ground – this season when he caught the eye of ManU scouts.

His good luck hasn’t fattened his wallet. All the money goes to Preston for now, because he can’t take cash until he turns pro – not until he’s 17.

But the deal has made Daniel the most sought-after kid in Britain. Magazines, newspapers and TV stations are banging down the door seeking interviews.

It has gotten so bad that ManU, usually not shy about promoting its players, has implemented a news blackout around Daniel. It is not granting any interviews with the youngster, and is even refusing to send photos of him to media outlets.

“We are looking to protect him as much as possible,” a spokesman for the team told The Post. ManU fears the attention and pressure could hurt Daniel, taking his mind off his schoolwork and turning off his friends.

But the likelihood of creating a storm didn’t cause ManU to back off.

The team is a marketing juggernaut. ManU, which recently signed a joint marketing deal with the Yankees, has made millions around the world from its on-field success. Keeping its farm system well-stocked is its top priority.

An English soccer tribunal has ordered ManU to pay up to $195,000 for the deal.

ManU will have to pay Preston $11,250 immediately, another $11,250 if Daniel makes the ManU youth team, $29,000 more if he turns pro and finally, a staggering $143,500 if he should play 10 games with ManU’s first squad.