Barcelona sporting director Eric Abidal reportedly met with Matthijs de Ligt amid speculation linking the club with a move for the Ajax defender.
De Ligt is one of the most in-demand youngsters in world football at the moment, with the likes of Juventus and Manchester City also understood to be monitoring his progress.
However, Catalunya Radio reports that Barcelona have tried to steal a march over their rivals by sending Abidal to personally meet the 19-year-old and explain what role he would play in the club's future.
Abidal is thought to have met De Ligt for dinner in Amsterdam, where the Barca director assured him that he was their number one transfer target next summer.
The club had already begun talks with the player's agent before making direct contact in order to gauge his willingness to leave Ajax for Camp Nou.
Abidal is also understood to have made contact with De Ligt's Ajax teammate Frenkie de Jong, but that was only via a telephone call rather than a personal meeting.
Barney Corkhill
