Author: Barkha Roy
In a surprising revelation made by former FC Barcelona observer André Cury, the Catalan giants appear to have another Brazilian wonderkid in their sights, nicknamed “Little Messi”. The young prodigy, Estevão Willian, has caught the eye of Barça, and the club’s fans are eagerly awaiting the chance to see the talented star pull on the iconic Blaugrana shirt.
Cury, the brains behind Barça’s successful signings of Neymar and Vitor Roque, confirmed that 18-year-old Vitor Roque would join the club in January after a fixed fee of 30 million euros, with additional variables totaling 31 million euros, was agreed with Athletico Paranaense. The young Brazilian striker’s arrival has set the stage for more potential Brazilian talents to shine at Camp Nou, continuing a remarkable trend.
The trend, pointed out by Cury, reveals a curious pattern in which Brazilian stars arrive at the Catalan club in years that end with the number three. Romário’s arrival in 1993 was followed by Ronaldinho in 2003 and Neymar in 2013. With the recent signing of Vitor Roque in 2023, fans are now anxiously speculating about the possibility of another “bombshell” of a transfer in 2033.
The spotlight is now on 16-year-old Estevão Willian, affectionately known as “Messinho” because of his striking resemblance to Lionel Messi. The Palmeiras star has been attracting attention in Brazilian soccer and has openly expressed his dream of playing for FC Barcelona. Cury described him as a super talent and a spectacle, even suggesting that he could be the next to receive the prestigious Ballon d’Or.
Although the agent has stated that no contact has been made between the clubs to secure Willian’s transfer, Mundo Deportivo, a renowned sports outlet, has reported on Barça’s keen interest in closely monitoring the young prodigy’s development. In an interview last year, Willian expressed his aspiration to join Barcelona, a dream he has cherished since childhood.
However, Palmeiras have kept the promising star under contract, attaching a formidable release clause of 60 million euros to his deal. Despite Barcelona’s financial constraints, there is still hope that a suitable agreement can be reached in the coming months. Palmeiras, being a financially stable club, may be open to negotiating a deal more in line with Barça’s economic needs.
Barcelona’s interest in Willian comes amid the search for Martin Zubimendi, a much-needed pivot for the team. Although the amount demanded for Palmeiras’ star player seems high, the youngster will only be able to move club when he turns 18. This delay could give Barcelona time to strategize and explore affordable terms, similar to the successful deal with Athletico-PR for Vitor Roque.