After missing out on future Manchester City forward Claudio Echeverri, Barcelona has redirected their attention back to Brazil in pursuit of a challenging prospect.
At just 16 years old, Estevao Willian, nicknamed Messinho, has attracted interest from several top European clubs and will have the luxury of choosing from various options.
Barcelona have been tracking the talented player from Palmeiras for a while, but Messinho has also drawn interest from Real Madrid previously. Additionally, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea are actively vying for his signature.
Consequently, the Blaugrana face a tough task. Estevao cannot depart until 2025, upon reaching 18, but there's a strong possibility that one of these clubs may trigger his €60m release clause well before then. Messinho has publicly expressed his desire to join Barcelona, reportedly maintaining that stance according to MD.
However, with Barcelona currently enduring severe financial difficulties, they might struggle to match their rivals in financial terms. Reports suggest that Messinho's agent, Andre Cury, will use his presence in Barcelona for Vitor Roque's presentation to arrange a meeting with President Joan Laporta, aiming to discuss available options.
Cury is eager to gauge Barcelona's willingness to make the necessary financial commitment to secure Estevao's signing, or if they should explore other alternatives.
Cury played a crucial role in Barcelona's acquisition of Roque from Athletico Paranaense, staging a deal that brought him to Barcelona a year earlier, albeit with a payment of €31m out of the €61m in variables. Formerly employed as a scout by Barcelona, Cury has strong ties to the club. However, unless Barcelona feels financially equipped to pursue Messinho, they might have to withdraw from the competition.