Barcelona boss Xavi has confirmed that his club are in discussions with Endrick and his representatives over a possible deal for the Palmeiras attacker.
The 16-year-old is regarded as one of the best young talents in world football, with the forward already making seven appearances for his Brazilian side's first team, scoring three times and contributing one assist.
Real Madrid, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain were thought to be the three favourites to sign him, but Xavi has now revealed that his club are firmly in the mix for the Brazilian.
"[We] have been talking with his [Endrick's] father and also directly with the player too. I explained the project at Barcelona," Xavi told ESPN.
"We want talented players, and he is a talent, capable of making a difference. He has the great finishing, dribbling and a capacity to make a difference on the pitch. He is a player already of the present - playing in the Brazilian league - and also the future.
© Reuters
"He is a kind of player that we need. He already knows the project we have at Barcelona and we are talking. I hope he becomes our player. It depends on him.
"This kind of thing always depends on the player. Normally, a player ends up playing where he wants to play, so it is a very personal decision of Endrick."
Endrick's current deal with Palmeiras is due to run until 2025, but the Brazilian side are said to be bracing themselves for his exit due to the growing interest in his services.
The teenager's father Douglas Sousa recently confirmed that PSG have made "an official proposal".
"Paris Saint-Germain are the only club that opened negotiations with Palmeiras with an official proposal, as things stand," Sousa told Canal do Nicola. "There are many clubs from different countries keen on signing him. PSG have already moved."
© Reuters
Endrick recently said that he 'dreams of playing in Europe', with the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1 are appealing to him.
"There's the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1 ... I play video games a lot, I make a career out of playing," Endrick recently told TV Gazeta. "I watch all the leagues, I play in all the leagues, practically. I see myself playing in any league.
"My dream is to play in Europe, but what I want is to be playing. I'm focused on Palmeiras and I don't care where I'll be playing in the future ... currently, [Erling Braut] Haaland is a new guy that I look up to, who was almost from my generation. But, of course, there is also [Cristiano] Ronaldo."
Any move for Endrick would not be able to officially occur until he turns 18 in July 2024.
Matt Law
