Barcelona manager Xavi has confirmed he has personally spoken to Palmeiras sensation Endrick in an attempt to convince the teenage striker to move to Camp Nou.
La Liga rivals Real Madrid are chasing the 16-year-old’s signature, with Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain also firmly in the race because of their ability to pay Endrick’s €60m release clause – something Barcelona could struggle with.
Despite their weaker economic position, Barcelona have made their plea to Endrick and Xavi confirmed to ESPN that he has spoken with both the striker and his family about a move.
“We have been speaking with his father and also directly with the player,” Xavi said. “I explained the project we have in Barcelona.
“We want talent and he is a talent, capable of making a difference. He can score, he can dribble, he has a brutal ability to make the difference. He is a player from the present, who is already playing in the Brazilian league, and also from the future. He’s the type of player we need.
“He’s the type of player we need. He knows the project we have here at Barcelona and we are talking. We hope he becomes our player, but it depends on him. It always depends on the player. Usually, a player will end up playing where he wants to play, so it’s a very personal decision by Endrick.”
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90min understands that Endrick has toured Europe to visit a number of his suitors as he prepares to agree a deal to leave Palmeiras, who are expecting to conclude his sale before the end of the calendar year.
Sources have confirmed that Palmeiras are demanding Endrick’s €60m release clause be met, which could prove problematic for Barcelona, while the Brazilian side would prefer not to do business from a team in Spain as tax rules concerning transfers between the two countries would see Palmeiras lose out on around €10m if Endrick moved to La Liga.
Real Madrid are confident they have done enough to convince Endrick, who is learning English, to join them when he turns 18, but interest from Chelsea and PSG refuses to subside.
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