According to reports from catalan sport newspapers "EL MUNDO DEPORTIVO" and "SPORT" Portuguese sources over the weekend, FC Barcelona have come close to reach a three-way agreement between FC Porto´s young superstar, Anderson Luis de Abreu Oliveira, his agent Jorge Mendes and the club FC Porto. FC Barcelona´s director of football Txiki Begiristain had been following the young, rising star for a while and is convinced that the youngster is good enough to make an impact in Barca´s star studded team. Txiki made the signing of Anderson a priority after it became known that the 18 year old Samba star is also a target of Chelsea, AC Milan, Inter, FC Valencia, FC Sevilla, Hamburger SV and Arsenal. Especially recent efforts by Chelsea, Barca´s opponent in the Champions League, concerned Txiki and therefore went ahead with the procedure to sign the young Brazilian.


The newspapers reported that Txiki Begiristain already has reached an agreement with the player, his agent Jorge Mendes (who is also the agent of Barca players Deco, Marquez and Motta) but still has to convince FC Porto´s president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa to let the player move to Camp Nou. To persuade Porto´s president over the deal, FC Barcelona is willing to sign the player and then loan him back to FC Porto for 1 or max. 2 years. For FC Porto, this could be a tempting offer, receiving a transfer fee and a player on a free loan without having to pay his salary.
Barca´s technical staff also agrees that this could be a move most suitable to all parties involved, considering that the 18 year old player would receive more Champions League experience and playing time at Porto than he probably would receive with the Barca first team next year.


It is understood, that Chelsea will fight for Anderson, even FC Barcelona has taken control over the player and his agent. Chelski and Jose Mourinho try to highjack the deal by seducing FC Porto´s president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa with the russian millions from its owner Roman Abramovich. Jose Mourinho is so desperate to land Anderson that he will fight for the player until the last second possible.


18-year-old Brazilian Anderson played for the same club, Gremio Porto Alegre, where his idol, Barca´s Samba superstar Ronaldinho, learned his football skills and signed his first professional contract. Due to his similarity and attractivity of his football skills, Anderson is also known as the "New Ronaldinho".


Anderson emerged on the international football scene during last year´s Under-17 FIFA World Championship, the same tournament Barca youngster Giovani Dos Santos stunned the audience with his outstanding pace and technical skills. Despite Brazil not winning the tournament, Gremio´s Anderson was voted most valuable "Player of the Tournament" while Barca´s Giovanni Dos Santos became second.