Barcelona to miss out on Brazilian prodigy as Real Madrid close in on €72 million capture | OneFootball

Barcelona are among a host of clubs that showed an interest in the services of Palmeiras wonderkid Endrick. Just 16 years old, the young striker is being pursued by some of the biggest teams across Europe.

Barça manager Xavi Hernandez confirmed the club’s interest in the Brazilian sensation in a recent interview, revealing that they had held talks with the teenager and his entourage to try and convince him to move to the club.

However, according to the latest update from Fabrizio Romano, it is Barcelona’s arch-rivals Real Madrid who seem to have won the race for Endrick’s signing.

The Italian transfer expert has revealed that Los Blancos are set to complete the capture of the Palmeiras wonderkid in a deal worth around €72 million, including bonuses and tax commissions.

PSG had also shown a serious interest in signing Endrick and had lodged a €93 million bid for Endrick and another Palmeiras youth prodigy, Estevao, who also happens to be on the radars of Barcelona.

However, with the Brazilian club rejecting that offer, the French club dropped out of the race. Meanwhile, Barça held a strong interest in the 16-year-old sensation. But, Palmeiras fee demands meant that the Catalans were always an outside contender given their financial situation.

It left the path clear for Real Madrid, who, as things stand, have agreed personal terms with Endrick and finalised the details of the deal already, which will likely be made official in the coming days.

So, Barcelona are set to miss out on Endrick’s services, who will sign for Real Madrid but only arrive at the club in the summer of 2024, once he turns 18 years old.

The Catalans have their eyes on other Brazilian talents such as the aforementioned Estevao as well as Athletico Paranaense’s Vitor Roque. Whether they make a move for either of them will be interesting to see.