FC Barcelona keeps strengthening their future project with a policy of interest that increasingly looks beyond La Masia. With an economy that prevents major immediate operations, the club has chosen to strongly bet on young and promising talents, with the ability to develop and project into the first team. One of the most sought-after profiles is that of a winger, a position in which the culé directors want to guarantee alternatives in the medium term.
In that context, Deco has taken on a leading role. The sporting director has intensified the network of international scouts and has personally led some scouting operations that aim to discover new gems before the rest of the major European clubs. One of them has just been finalized and, in fact, promises to generate a lot of discussion in the coming years.
Deco's personal bet
According to the latest reports, Barça plans to activate Cardoso Varela's release clause, a Portuguese winger who is only 16 years old and currently plays for Dinamo Zagreb. The operation, which is around 5 million euros, is being managed directly by Deco, who had already been in contact with the player's entourage for some time. After several meetings with his agent, Andy Bara, the blaugrana club is about to seal the agreement and get ahead of other major clubs that were also following him.
Varela is considered one of the most outstanding prospects of his generation. After his departure from FC Porto due to contractual disagreements, he moved to Croatia, where he quickly began to show his talent: dribbling, speed, tactical maturity, and good decision-making. His development has convinced Barça's sporting area, which sees in him an ideal profile to polish for the future.
Transfer underway
Although it is only a matter of time before the club executes the clause, Varela will not arrive in Barcelona immediately. The agreement stipulates that the young player will spend one more season at Dinamo Zagreb, where he will be able to continue his development in a competitive environment with guaranteed playing time. This decision aims to avoid a forced adaptation to Spanish soccer and allow him to arrive better prepared when it is time for the leap.
If everything goes as planned, Varela will join Barça in the 2026-27 campaign. Most likely as part of Barça Atlètic, before trying to earn a spot in the first team. It is a formula that has already proven successful in other recent cases and that the club wants to keep applying with international talents.