Barcelona send top scout to Ecuador to identify emerging U18 talents – report | OneFootball

Barcelona have once again shown their commitment to spotting young talent early by sending a member of their technical secretariat to Ecuador.

According to a report from SPORT, the club’s scouting department is attending the prestigious U18 tournament currently taking place in the country.

The tournament, organised by Independiente del Valle, widely respected across South America for its youth development, is seen as one of the key events in the youth football calendar.

Held from June 4th to June 14th, the tournament features 16 teams from eight different countries. This year, Celta de Vigo are the only European representatives, with the rest of the teams coming from across Latin America.

South America remains a goldmine for FC Barcelona

Barcelona have always taken youth development seriously, and their scouts are among the most active in world football.

Barcelona are always on the lookout for young talents. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

This latest move to attend the tournament in Ecuador proves that they are looking to strengthen their future by identifying top talent at an early age.

With clubs across Europe watching closely, it becomes crucial to act early, and Barça’s presence shows they are not willing to fall behind in this race.

Among the teams competing are clubs like Fluminense, Palmeiras, Gremio, Atletico Mineiro, Liga de Quito, Once Caldas, Penarol, Pumas, and even the Venezuelan national team.

For Barça, this is a golden opportunity to assess young players in competitive action and possibly lay the groundwork for future signings.

With the tournament bringing together the best youth talents from across the region, Barcelona’s scouting presence underlines their belief that the next big star could emerge from South America, a continent that continues to produce some of the brightest talents in world football.