Two key factors behind Barcelona pulling out of race for Chelsea-bound Brazilian wonderkid

According to a report from SPORT, Barcelona have chosen not to pursue Estevao Willian for their team. 

This decision is due to two main reasons; first, their current financial constraints and second, the fact that Estevao plays in the same position as Lamine Yamal, who is already a big part of the team.

Barcelona were studying the option to sign Estevao from Palmeiras but were facing a lot of competition, especially from Premier League side Chelsea and Ligue 1’s Paris Saint-Germain. 

As of today, it is suggested that Chelsea are in advanced talks with the Brazilian club and everyone expects an agreement to be reached soon.

Interestingly, it is said that if done, the operation could reach up to €65 million including variables.

What happened to Barcelona?

Barcelona have opted not to pursue the signing of Estevao, even though his representative, Andre Cury, is also the agent for Vitor Roque. 

Interestingly, Cury has kept the club’s sports management team informed about Estevao’s situation, yet they have chosen not to take action and this decision was guided by several key factors.

Firstly, Barcelona are currently facing significant financial challenges, making it difficult to justify a high-profile signing. 

Yamal is more important

Secondly, Estevao plays in the same position as Barcelona’s rising star, Yamal, in Brazil. This overlap led Deco, with the president’s approval, to decide against any moves that might interfere with Yamal’s development.

For what it is worth, investing a whopping €65 million in Estevao, a player who would not join the club until the summer of 2025 and closely resembles Yamal, seemed illogical in terms of sporting, financial, and social impact. 

Instead, Barcelona have prioritized using these funds to strengthen other crucial areas of the team. The focus remains on supporting Yamal’s growth without introducing any distractions or challenges that could hinder his progress.