Barcelona enlist Deco's help to sign next Endrick

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 24 Jan 2023 22:01 GMT
• 3 min read

Barcelona may have lost out to Real Madrid in the pursuit of Palmeiras wonderkid Endrick, but they don't plan to make the same mistake twice and have enlisted former star Deco's help with the Brazilian market.

Endrick will join Real in a €72 million deal in the summer of 2024 when he turns 18, the move coming as a bitter disappointment to Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Barca, who had also been in the running for his signature.

The Blaugrana were perhaps the least plausible of Endrick's suitors given the young striker's spiralling asking price and the fact that they suffered a group stage exit from this season's Champions League, negatively impacting finances.

READ: 'Real Madrid signing Endrick the type of player Barcelona need' - Xavi

But from Romario and Ronaldo through Ronaldinho and Neymar, Barca have a rich history of signing Brazilian stars, and they have now shifted their focus to Athletico Paranaense forward Vitor Roque.

"Vitor Roque: the great mission that Barca has entrusted to Deco," reports Relevo's Toni Juanmarti. Barca hope to find the right formula to win the Athletico Paranaense forward.

"On Monday at noon, there was a summit between Deco and [Barca director] Mateu Alemany to that end."

READ: Barcelona give starlet Lucas Roman HUGE release clause

Deco is understood to also be sounding out Flamengo's 19-year-old right-back Wesley, and both players were discussed at the meeting, which took place at the Via Veneto restaurant in Barcelona.

How good is Vitor Roque?

Already a Brazil under-20 international at the age of 17, Vitor Roque has three goals in six international outings at the level for his country.

The young striker broke through at Cruzeiro, and although he hasn’t been quite as prolific as Endrick yet, his senior goal-involvements at club level have still come in at a rate of one every 140 minutes he has played.

Athletico paid Cruzeiro a club record €4.3 million for his services in April, but could now be looking for up to 10 times that figure with Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal also credited with an interest in the youngster.