Barcelona expected to complete Gustavo Maia signing

Photo by Michael Regan - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

The 19-year-old winger is already learning Spanish ahead of a move to Camp Nou, according to his agent

Barcelona are expected to complete the signing of Gustavo Maia, a 19-year-old left winger who plays for São Paulo FC, according to the Brazilian club’s sporting director and the player’s agent.

According to a report from Diario AS back in March, Barça showed interest in Maia after his exploits for São Paulo in the famous Copinha, a tournament for youth teams played every January with over 100 Brazilian clubs. Barça reportedly paid a €1 million fee for the priority to sign Maia this summer, and the Blaugrana are expected to exercise that priority and pay an extra €3.5 million to seal the deal.

And Maia is already learning a new langague in anticipation of his move to the Camp Nou, according to his agent, Danilo Silva.

“We are sure Barcelona will complete the purchase. There was already a signal from the club and [on Monday] Maia started private Spanish lessons to get more prepared. Other clubs came to us in the last few months but he never had any doubt, he always wanted Barcelona.”

Source: Globoesporte via Goal

Gustavo Maia is a quick, skilled left winger who loves to take defenders on and likes to get in good positions to score at the far post. He’s very similar to Ansu Fati, but he’s two years older and will probably need at least a season at Barça B so we can’t get too excited about this one.

But hey, no one thought Gabriel Martinelli would become an instant star when Arsenal signed him, so maybe we’re getting our own Martinelli if this deal really happens. One can only hope.

Source: barcablaugranes.com