Futbol Club Barcelona has reached an agreement to sign Fabricio Diaz from Liverpool Montevideo.
Diaz shone at the South American U20 championships earlier this year. He is now captaining his country to a runner-up finish in the final against eventual champions Brazil.
Since Vitor Roque, a Brazilian forward, turned 18, Barcelona has taken notice of him. The competition’s leading scorer, Roque could be acquired this summer for about €45 million ($50 million) from Athletico Paranaense.
But Diaz caught their attention, which led to Diaz’s agent Martin Rodriguez Nader visiting Barcelona HQ last week to meet with the club’s sports department, according to Mundo Deportivo.
Barca must have reached an agreement with his current club, Liverpool Montevideo, for a much lower fee of €8 million ($8.8 million).
The Barca Athletic reserve team should receive Diaz. Diaz, on the other hand, has the potential to follow in the footsteps of untouchable starter and compatriot Ronald Araujo, progressing to the first team and eventually replacing captain Sergio Busquets in defensive midfield.
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Barcelona won the signing of Diaz over South American powerhouses Flamengo and River Plate in Brazil and Argentina.
The signing took place in order to bind Diaz ahead of the U20 World Cup in May. If he performs as well as he did in the South American championships, his price tag may have increased.
Diaz is a natural leader with maturity beyond his years and captains Liverpool at the age of 20.
It is unclear whether Barcelona will be able to register his purchase in light of Financial Fair Play requirements. After La Liga president Javier Tebas publicly warned them, it seems a little risky. Tebas said that they must reduce their wage bill by €200 million ($218 million) in advance of the upcoming season.
Diaz, on the other hand, could be a much cheaper alternative to Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi. Martin would cost the Blaugrana nearly ten times as much at €70 million ($77 million).