Barcelona Sporting Director Deco meets with Andy Bara, representative of Dani Olmo and Cardoso Varela | OneFootball

As FC Barcelona prepare to kick off their UEFA Champions League campaign tomorrow, Thursday, against Newcastle United, some intriguing developments are also taking place away from the pitch.

According to Mundo Deportivo, agent Andy Bara paid a visit to Barça Sporting Director Deco at the Ciutat Esportiva offices in Sant Joan Despí earlier this week. Interestingly, both arrived and departed in the same car, fueling speculation about the nature of their meeting.

Bara represents several notable players, including first-team midfielder Dani Olmo. Yet, what makes the visit particularly eye-catching for fans is that he also manages Cardoso Varela, the highly rated 16-year-old Portuguese winger from Dinamo Zagreb, who has been linked with Barcelona in recent months.

Earlier this summer, Varela extended his contract with the Croatian champions until 2027. Despite this, reports suggested Barça had already outlined the framework of a future transfer: €5 million fixed plus €20 million in performance-related add-ons.

For now, however, Dinamo remain firm in their stance that the youngster will stay for at least two more seasons.

The report from MD indicates that Bara’s visit was primarily to follow up on the day-to-day situation of his clients at the club, which also includes Croatian prospect Lovro Chelfi, who joined Barcelona’s Juvenil side this summer. Even so, Barcelona fans will be hoping that groundwork is quietly being laid for Varela’s eventual arrival in Catalonia.