Transfer Centre

Barcelona move for Estevao Willian in jeopardy?

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 26 December 2023

Barcelona's proposed move for 16-year-old Palmeiras winger Estevao Willian is allegedly in danger of collapsing due to the Blaugrana's indecisiveness.

Barcelona's proposed move for Palmeiras winger Estevao Willian is allegedly in danger of collapsing due to the Blaugrana's indecisiveness.

The La Liga champions are understood to be one of a cluster of top European clubs hoping to add the talented 16-year-old to their ranks following his first-team breakthrough.

Born in 2007, Estevao made his senior debut for Palmeiras in the final gameweek of the 2023 Brasileiro campaign, coming on as a late substitute against former club Cruzeiro.

However, it was at November's Under-17 World Cup where Estevao announced himself to the globe, as the teenager scored three goals and set up three more during Brazil's run to the quarter-finals.

Estevao netted one of his own and provided three assists in a 9-0 group-stage obliteration of New Caledonia, as well as scoring a brace in a 3-1 last-16 win over Ecuador before Brazil lost to Argentina in the quarter-finals.

Barcelona's Ferran Torres celebrates scoring against Royal Antwerp on December 13, 2023 © Reuters

Back in April, Palmeiras agreed professional terms with the 16-year-old until the summer of 2026, but the Brazilian giants are fighting an uphill battle to retain his services for the long-term.

Chelsea and Real Madrid are supposedly at the head of the queue for the services of Estevao, who could not officially join any club in Europe until he turns 18 in April 2025.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and Barcelona have also taken a liking to the Brazil Under-17 international, who has been affectionately dubbed 'Messinho'.

Estevao is said to have his heart set on a future move to Camp Nou, where he and his father were given a tour of the facilities, as was the case with various other clubs around Europe.

The attacker's Palmeiras contract is understood to include a release clause of €60m (£52.1m), but Barcelona cannot justify triggering that option in their current economic state, and Estevao is therefore reconsidering his options.

A general shot of Barcelona's Camp Nou taken in June 2020 © Reuters

All other interested parties are said to be prepared to pay Estevao's release clause in full, and Palmeiras are keen for the South American to make his final decision as soon as possible.

Barcelona are yet to take any official steps to sign the player given their long-standing financial problems, which has reportedly made Estevao's thought process "increasingly difficult".

As far as Palmeiras are concerned, the Brazilian champions want Estevao to follow in the footsteps of Endrick, who quickly decided that he wanted to join Real Madrid and agreed a move to the Bernabeu in December 2022.

A smooth negotiating process allowed Endrick to focus on the 2023 season with Palmeiras, and the 17-year-old shone with 14 goals in 53 matches, including 11 in his side's triumphant Brasileiro campaign.

Endrick's €37.5m (£32.5m) transfer will officially go through in July 2024, but he has recently spent time in Madrid to watch Los Blancos in action and meet his future teammates.