FC Barcelona has set its sights on the future and has two young Portuguese promises on its radar who could join the team in 2024. According to a report from the Spanish media SPORT, Joao Neves and Dario Essugo are the center of attention for Barcelona, which seeks to reinforce its midfield with young and promising talent.
Tavira-born Joao Neves began his youth career at CB Tavira before joining Benfica in 2016. Since then, he has experienced a rapid rise through the club and made his first-team debut in December 2022. Despite his youth, has already featured in four league games this season and provided one assist.
Barcelona Transfers: The two Portuguese pearls that are in Deco’s sights
On the other hand, Dario Essugo has been in the ranks of Sporting CP for almost a decade, joining the club in 2014. At 18 years old, he became the youngest debutant in Sporting history in March 2021 and has since accumulated 12 more games with the first team.
The meteoric progression of Neves and Essugo has not gone unnoticed, with several high-profile clubs showing interest in them. Joao Neves has even been linked with Manchester United, but now it is Barcelona who are interested in bringing in these talented Portuguese midfielders.
Barcelona have already strengthened their midfield with additions such as Oriol Romeu and Ilkay Gundogan in the summer transfer window, but both players are at the back of their careers and offer short-term solutions. Therefore, the club seeks to invest in young talents for the future.
Among the names that have emerged as possible targets for Barcelona is Florentino Luis, but Joao Neves and Dario Essugo are also viable options. Both players are at the beginning of their promising careers and could learn from experienced players like Gundogan and Romeu before taking on a more prominent role in the team.
In addition to Neves and Essugo, Barcelona also has Jean-Philippe Gbamin and Josuha Guilavogui on their radar, indicating their determination to strengthen their midfield in 2024. Competition for these young Portuguese prospects promises to be intense, and Culés fans will be eager to see how this search for talent develops in the next transfer market.
