FC Barcelona is once again looking to Brazil, a land known for its abundant talent, in search of their next gem. The focus this time is on Joao Vitor Roraima, a young and relatively unknown 17-year-old attacking midfielder, who has arrived in Barcelona to train under the watchful eyes of La Masia’s coaches. This initiative is not driven by the club’s usual scouting network, but rather by Deco, the sporting director and a deep connoisseur of the South American market.
Roraima currently plays for the modest Ibrachina FC, an emerging club based in eastern São Paulo, and has been invited for a temporary training stint at the famed Blaugrana facilities. Although this phase is one of observation, within the club it’s recognized that his arrival is no coincidence; it is a direct investment by Deco, who has been closely monitoring Roraima’s development. Although the player has yet to don the Brazilian national jersey at any level and has not made headlines, he boasts impressive technical skills and game vision.
Proud of this achievement, Ibrachina FC announced the news through their social media, expressing their pride in having one of their talents invited by FC Barcelona, heralded as the best academy in the world. For a club established in 2020 by local entrepreneurs, seeing one of their players in Can Barça serves as recognition for their consistent and diligent work.
Roraima participated in Copinha, a prestigious Brazilian youth tournament, back in January, which annually showcases hundreds of emerging talents. While his team did not advance far, his performance caught Deco’s attention, prompting him to act swiftly, aiming to secure this young talent before other Brazilian and European giants take notice.
While Barcelona insists that no formal agreement is in place yet—given the strict protocols surrounding contracts for underage foreign players—they are open to the possibility of offering Roraima a chance to develop further under their tutelage if he performs well in training.
This initiative signifies Barcelona’s ongoing commitment to nurturing young talent and highlights Deco’s proactive approach in scouting rising stars from Brazil, demonstrating the club’s ambition to remain at the forefront of football development and talent acquisition.