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Barcelona HIJACK Man Utd wonderkid signing
Tom Weber
- Updated: 14 Jan 2026 19:44 GMT
- 3 min read
News
Barcelona have agreed a deal with LDU Quito to trial Manchester United target Ederson Castillo, according to Spanish media.
The 17-year-old has been linked with a move to Old Trafford for more than a month. Man Utd appeared set to welcome Castillo, along with Colombian youngster Cristian Orozco, in the future.
However, things have not quite worked out that way. While Orozco will join Man Utd, Ecuador youth international Castillo no longer looks a guaranteed signing. Quite to the contrary, Barcelona now look poised to strike a deal for him.
According to Sport, the Catalans have reached an agreement with LDU Quito and Orozco over an initial trial that is set to take place in Spain in the coming days.
The youngster will have a chance to impress the Blaugrana hierarchy before a final decision on whether or not to sign him permanently is made. Should he prove his worth and be tied down to a long-term deal, he would initially be expected to suit up for Barca Atletic.
Barcelona to sign Castillo?
Castillo is the latest wonderkid to be produced by Ecuador, a country that is increasingly becoming a force to be reckoned with in the footballing world. Unlike many of the country's stars, however, Castillo is a product of LDU Quito and not Independiente del Valle.
The 17-year-old is regarded as one of the biggest talents in South America. Primarily a midfielder, the teenager has already made a handful of senior appearances for Quito.
"It's official," club president Isaac Alvarez confirmed to the local press. "We tried to keep it discreet, but Ederson went to do an internship at Barcelona. It's a limited time he'll be there, and he'll return after that. We're keeping an eye on his performance."
"He's part of our first team. We'll see what the next steps are if Barca shows interest [in signing him]. We want to guide him, take care of him, help him grow and ensure he has a positive development because he's one of the gems we have in our youth academy."
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