Barcelona might face defeat in the race to sign 19-year-old Ecuadorian midfielder Oscar Zambrano, with a Portuguese club ready to prise him away.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Oscar Zambrano remains the subject of interest from Barcelona. But the Catalan giants are facing defeat in the race to sign the 19-year-old South American midfielder. And an unnamed Portuguese club will likely shell out €5 million to secure his services.
Oscar Zambrano is one of the best young prospects in South America. A native of Santo Domingo, the Ecuadorian Under-20 international passed through the academies at Colorados SC, LDU Quito, and CD America de Quito in his formative years. And the Ecuadorian whizkid currently represents LDU Quito.
The 19-year-old made his first-team debut last season in April 2022. And since then, he has gone from strength to strength, making 28 further appearances while chipping in with one goal. The youngster’s progress has not gone unnoticed either, with several high-profile clubs, including Barcelona, setting their sights on him.
Zambrano emerged on Barcelona’s radar earlier this month. And widespread reports claimed that the Catalan giants were in talks with LDU Quito over a possible deal for the teenage sensation. Meanwhile, Barcelona’s interest in the player is understandable, considering the constant forays into the South American market for young prospects.
Such an outlook has already brought Vitor Roque to Barcelona. And the Brazilian wonderkid will formally complete his move to Barcelona when the January transfer window opens. And the reigning La Liga champions are keen on signing a young midfielder to ensure a smooth transition to the next generation.
But Barcelona might face defeat in the race to secure Zambrano’s services. That is because an unnamed Portuguese club is ready to fork out €5 million to sign him from LDU Quito. And the report claims that €5 million should be good enough to seal the deal for the youngster.
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So the 19-year-old South American midfielder is closing in on moving to Europe. But instead of joining Barcelona, he will likely complete a transfer to Portugal. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see if the Catalan giants can claw their way back in the transfer battle.
