Barcelona set for second summer signing after talks advance to land Brazilian wonderkid

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Barcelona are close to securing their second summer signing — and this one could be one for the future.

The Catalan giants are reportedly in advanced talks to bring in 17-year-old Ze Lucas, a rising star from Brazil who is already making waves in his home country.

The teenager plays for Sport Recife in the Brazilian top flight and has already made 17 senior appearances. Not bad for someone who was born in 2008.

Ze Lucas is also the captain of Brazil’s U-17 team and led them to a South American title. That’s a lot of responsibility for a player who’s still too young to vote.

With Deco and the club’s recruitment team shifting focus to long-term planning, Barcelona are once again turning to the Brazilian talent pool — a market that has delivered some magic over the years (hello, Ronaldinho).

This time, it’s about shaping the next generation.

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Why Ze Lucas can not move to Barcelona before 2026?Talks between Barcelona and Sport Recife have made good progress, as per MARCA. Both sides are said to be optimistic about reaching an agreement soon.

However, fans hoping to see Ze Lucas at the Camp Nou right away will need to hold their horses.

Due to age restrictions, Ze Lucas cannot move to Europe until he turns 18 in 2026. So even if the deal is wrapped up this summer, he’ll stay in Brazil for a while longer. Consider it a future investment — like buying stocks early and hoping for Messi-level returns.

Ze Lucas recently signed a contract with Sport that runs until 2028, so it won’t be a bargain buy. But Barca believe the young midfielder is worth the wait and the fee.

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Vishal Bhawani

Vishal Bhawani is a sub-editor for the Affiliate Content team and a writer and sub-editor for the Football Wires team at The Sporting News. Based in Indore, India, he holds a Diploma in Operations and Management from Maharashtra University.

Before joining TSN in May 2024, Vishal contributed to Football Express and Six Sports and ran his own blog, Anfield Home, as a passionate Liverpool fan. An avid traveler, he follows multiple sports, including cricket, soccer, and tennis.