Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu claims that the La Liga side have received a massive offer for Francisco Trincao, after reports stated that Leicester City made a bid of £45 million.
The Portuguese wonder-kid has not even made his debut in Barca colours yet. But the fact that Leicester are willing to make him the biggest signing in their 136-year history speaks volumes.
The Guardian reported in July that Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes wanted to take Trincao on loan for two seasons with an obligation to buy the 20-year-old permanently for a staggering £45 million.
The under-fire Bartomeu said ‘no’ of course.
After an 8-2 thumping at the hands of Bayern Munich which brutally exposed every crack and crater in this crumbling, ageing Barca side, the last thing the president wants to do is cash in on arguably the club’s most exciting young talent.
“Trincao and (fellow youngster) Pedri, for Barça fans, are a little unknown. They are players who are exciting. Since we signed, them we have had offers for them for double what we paid,” says Bartomeu, surely one of the most unpopular men in world football right now.
Barcelona certainly raised plenty of eyebrows in Spain and abroad when they gambled £27 million on Trincao during the January transfer window, paying a staggering sum for the Braga youngster even while trying in vain to raise funds for dream signings Neymar or Lautaro Martinez.
That alone speaks volumes about how highly the Portugal U21 international is rated at a club who, until very recently, were viewed as the masters when it comes to unearthing the next generation of superstars.
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