BARCELONA are considering a move to sign teen sensation Estevao William from troubled Cruzeiro, according to reports in Brazil.
The 13-year-old is dubbed Messinho for his extraordinary talents and could soon find himself subject to an offer from Europe.
In October, Barcelona director of football Eric Abidal travelled across the Atlantic to visit Cruzeiro’s base and watch one of Estevao’s trianing sessions.
Negotiations over a move are understood to have not taken place on that trip but the Belo Horizonte club may not be able to hold onto their starlet for long.
Globo Esporte report that serious administrative and financial issues at Cruzeiro have put members of the player’s camp on red alert.
A debt to FIFA of over £10million is said to be due by April 1 and further issues place the team at risk of dropping down to the third-tier, club chief Saulo Froes has said.
Barcelona are said to be monitoring the situation and have operated multiple times with Estevao’s agent, Andre Cury.
The Catalans have often used Cury to help procure talent from Brazil, most memorably Santos winger Neymar.
Last summer, Estevao’s father Ivo Goncalves stated that a trusting relationship between club and player is vital – with numerous teams happy to have the teenager if he seeks a move.
He told Globo: “Whatever is best for my son, wherever God places us, we will be.
“Thanks to Estevao’s gift, we have open doors to several clubs.
“When you treat the athlete well, the family too, you automatically create a bond.”
