Barcelona end pursuit of promising Brazilian talent after recent meeting with Sport Recife | OneFootball

Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, has recently met with the leadership of Brazilian club Sport Recife to explore the possible signing of talented youngster Ze Lucas, according to SPORT.

The meeting took place while Sport Recife’s top officials were on a European tour. Deco sat down with Sport Recife president Yuri Romao, along with sporting director Thiago Gasparino and general director Enrico Ambrogini.

Purpose of the meet

This face-to-face meeting confirmed Barça’s interest in strengthening their relationship with the Brazilian club, opening the door for future collaborations beyond just player signings.

During the discussions, Deco and the Sport Recife leadership not only talked about Ze Lucas but also looked at ways both clubs could work together in the future.

These collaborations could include player development, scouting partnerships, or friendly matches, which could benefit both clubs.

Future still uncertain due to high price tag

Barcelona will not make a move for Ze Lucas. (Photo by Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images)

Regarding Ze Lucas himself, Deco made it clear that Barcelona are not currently searching for a midfielder like him. Barça’s youth academy is already packed with promising midfielders, and manager Hansi Flick has plenty of young talent in the first team.

This means signing another midfielder is not a priority for the Catalan giants right now. On top of that, sources in Brazil say Sport Recife are valuing Ze Lucas at around €12-15 million, a high price for a young player without European experience.

By comparison, Roony Bardghji’s transfer to Barcelona is set to cost only around €2 million, making Ze Lucas’ price look even more excessive.

Despite this, Ze Lucas’ name is expected to keep popping up in European football circles. Sport Recife’s officials are also planning meetings with Betis and Sevilla during their stay in Spain.

For now, it seems unlikely Ze Lucas will join Barcelona, but the situation could still change if the price comes down or if Barça’s plans shift in the coming months.