Barcelona revive interest in South American wonderkid who Deco wanted years ago | OneFootball

As per SPORT, Barcelona’s long-standing focus on the South American market continues to shape their planning, and one name that has once again surfaced is Rayan, the highly rated 19-year-old winger currently shining at Vasco da Gama. 

The Brazilian youngster has enjoyed a remarkable rise in recent months and has firmly established himself as one of the standout prospects in his country.

Rayan’s impact has been officially recognised in Brazil, where he recently won the 2025 Brasileirão revelation award. 

His performances in the final stretch of the season have confirmed what scouts across Europe have already suspected – Vasco da Gama are nurturing a special talent capable of making the leap to elite football in the near future.

A long-standing interest

At Barcelona, Rayan’s development has been closely monitored. His progress has not gone unnoticed at Barcelona, particularly because the club’s sporting director, Deco, knows the player better than most. 

It is said that Deco personally recommended him back in 2022, at a time when he was still acting as an external advisor to president Joan Laporta and the player himself was only 15 years old.

Within the club, Rayan is viewed as a top-level prospect who fits the profile Barcelona are actively searching for. 

Rayan is back on Barcelona’s agenda. (Photo by Lucas Figueiredo/Getty Images)

Rayan’s name was already discussed internally during the previous summer transfer window. 

However, circumstances led Barcelona to move in a different direction, with Roony Bardghji ultimately arriving instead. Since then, the tactical landscape at the club has shifted.

Tactical shift at Barcelona

As such, Flick has begun experimenting with Lamine Yamal in more central roles, using him as an attacking midfielder, most notably during the victory over Real Betis. 

If this approach proves successful on a consistent basis, Barcelona will need a natural option to occupy the right flank and maintain balance in attack.

That is where Rayan’s profile becomes especially relevant. 

A direct, intelligent winger with the ability to adapt to multiple attacking roles, he represents the kind of forward Barcelona believe could complement their young core.