Barcelona appear to be serious about bringing in Brazilian talent. The club’s scouting director Joao Amaral was seen keeping an eye on Arthur Dias in Curitiba, a clear sign of the Catalan giants’ growing interest in the teenage centre-back.
The 19 year old has made a name for himself as one of South America’s brightest prospects after a rapid rise at Athletico Paranaense and a surprise call-up to the senior Brazil squad.
Catalan scout turns up in Curitiba
Amaral was spotted in the stands at Arena da Baixada during the Brasileirao match against Bahia, which says a lot about how keen Barcelona are on the defender. The Blaugrana have been won over by his physical presence and calmness on the ball, and he has become a regular starter under Odair Hellmann. According to ESPN Brazil, Barcelona are still in the evaluation stage and have not yet made a formal offer to the Paranaense board.
Tottenham tested Paranaense’s resolve
With Camp Nou now showing concrete interest, competition for the youngster has only heated up. He had already drawn firm attention from the Premier League, and the Furacao board are known as tough negotiators who are determined to protect their prized academy products from overseas clubs looking to poach them.
Paranaense reportedly turned down an offer worth more than 120 million Real, around £17.5 million or €20.5 million, from Tottenham Hotspur in order to keep the defender. That decisive rejection sends a strong message to other European clubs that this young talent will not be sold at a bargain price.
Brazil call-up caps a stunning rise
Dias has attracted even more attention after Carlo Ancelotti handed him a senior Brazil call-up for the current international break. Breaking into the Selecao at just 19 years old places the Curitiba academy graduate firmly among the top defensive prospects in South America. The trust of a manager with such an impressive track record says a lot about how far he has come since establishing himself as a starter in Brazil’s top flight.
