Barcelona have taken another decisive step in their pursuit of 16‑year‑old Portuguese winger Cardoso Varela, currently with Dinamo Zagreb.
Barcelona make ‘significant progress’ in bid to sign highly‑rated youngster Cardoso Varela
According to Diario Sport, Varela’s agent, Andy Bara, met with Barcelona’s sporting director Deco on the morning of June 12 at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper—delivering what has been described as “significant progress” in negotiations.
The deal under discussion reportedly includes a fixed fee of around €5 million, with performance-based add-ons potentially raising the total to €15–20 million.
Additional reports suggest a sell‑on clause, perhaps up to 20%, for Dinamo Zagreb when Varela eventually moves on.
Sources in Croatia, particularly 24sata and Barcablaugranes, indicate that the structure of the deal mirrors recent Barcelona youth signings.
Varela would remain on loan at Dinamo for a further season—given the relegation of Barcelona’s B team—before transitioning to Catalonia in the summer of 2026.
Standing at the heart of this operation is Varela’s explosive style: a left-winger known for his dribbling and one-vs-one prowess, drawing comparisons to Vinícius Jr. and Jeremy Doku.
He has already demonstrated his promise with Portugal’s U‑17s, playing a key role in their runner‑up finish at the European Championship.
One crystallizing quote from Croatian Football’s Twitter coverage summed it up: “CARDSO VARELA TO BARCELONA! … The Portuguese wonderkid will remain in Croatia for another year before joining the Catalan club.”
While the move remains unofficial, insiders believe a final decision could materialize within the next four weeks.
If completed, the transfer would mark yet another bold investment by Barcelona in a future star—echoing recent moves for Pedri and Pablo Torre.
