FC Barcelona continue to monitor Estevao Willian at Palmeiras, who is known as ‘Little Messi’.
FC Barcelona are still interested in signing Palmeiras pearl Estevao Willian, who is known locally as ‘Messinho’ or ‘Little Messi’, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The 16-year-old currently has tongues wagging once more for his latest display in a Brasileirao U17 match against Fluminense.
Estevao Willian played a part in all four goals in the fixture as his team won 4-2. Scoring two goals and providing two assists, one of his strikes was a powerful header and the other a thunderous free kick.
At one stage in the game, the wood work denied him a hat trick when he let off another dead ball.
The teenager had already caught the attention of Europe’s top clubs before this display, with Paris Saint-Germain having a €50 million ($53 million) bid for him turned down.
Sao Paulo giants Palmeiras know the value of their prodigies, and how high moneyed outfits are willing to pay for them after selling Endrick to Real Madrid in a deal that could reach €60 million ($63.6 million) last December.
In Catalonia, Barca and their Brazil-born sporting director Deco are also great admirers of Estevao Willian and continue to monitor his progress.
Earlier this summer, Deco was key in landing another Brazilian promise in Vitor Roque, who should join Barca in January for a fixed fee of €30 million ($31.8 million) plus €31 million ($32.9 million) in variables from Athletico Paranaense.
This depends on Barca being able to get their house in order and successfully navigating Financial Fair Play limits so that the Vitor Roque can be registered, which hopefully wouldn’t be an issue two years from now if a solid approach was made for Estevao Willian.
Barca might struggle to raise the funds to buy him in 2024, but could agree something similar to the Vitor Roque deal with a good amount of fixed cash and a healthy sum in variables that would come Palmeiras’ way at a later date.
Swinging in the Blagurana’s favor is that Estevao Willian has already told Mundo Deportivo it is his “dream” to play for Barca, and follow in the footsteps of his idol and nickname near-namesake Lionel Messi.
This means that he might turn down offers from elsewhere, and wait for Deco and his team to make an approach in the coming months.