Barcelona withdraw from race to sign 16-year-old Brazilian wonderkid | OneFootball

According to SPORT’s Joaquim Piera, FC Barcelona have decided to halt their interest in Eduardo Conceicao, the highly rated 16-year-old Palmeiras forward, effectively leaving a clear path for clubs from the Premier League.

The young striker had attracted strong attention from Barcelona’s sporting department following highly positive scouting reports.

Deco even contacted Palmeiras academy coordinator Joao Paulo Sampaio to gather further information on the player, who is widely seen as a potential elite talent.

Barcelona withdraw from race despite strong interest

Barcelona, known for closely monitoring the South American market, had been particularly attentive to developments surrounding Conceicao.

His representatives, prior to the involvement of superagent Giuliano Bertolucci, visited the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper in late 2025, where they met with Joao Amaral, who oversees the club’s scouting department.

Conceicao’s performances with the Brazil U-17 national team at the recent South American U-17 Championship in Paraguay, where they were eliminated in the semi-finals by Colombia, further confirmed his potential.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Eduardo Conceição (@edu_conceicao09)

He had already impressed earlier in the year at the Copinha, where he stood out wearing Palmeiras’ No. 10 shirt against older opponents.

However, Barcelona, maintaining transparency throughout the process, informed Conceicao’s representatives that they would not enter a bidding war with English clubs, with Manchester City among his admirers.

While the player is highly rated internally, the Catalans’ ongoing financial rebuilding and limited investment capacity have influenced the decision.

Additionally, Barcelona are reluctant to repeat past experiences, such as the case of Vitor Roque, particularly regarding mid-season adaptation challenges. Signing a player who would only arrive in the summer of 2028 does not align with current planning.

The club will continue to monitor the South American market closely, but Conceicao is no longer a target.