Barcelona have made it a point to keep an eye out for the best young talents across the globe. It has led the club to be linked with promising starlets like Endrick, Vitor Roque and Andrey Santos in the recent past.
Of late, the Catalan giants have also been credited with an interest in Peterborough United’s English defensive prospect Charlie O’Connell, who will be a free agent in the summer.
Now, another teenage talent from England seems have attracted the interest of Barcelona, with reports in Italy, as relayed by Mundo Deportivo, claiming that Arsenal youngster Charlie Patino is on the La Liga giants’ radars.
The 19-year-old midfielder is a product of the Arsenal academy and is regarded as one of the most promising players to have come through the youth ranks in recent years.
Patino made his first-team debut for the Gunners in January earlier this year and has played two games, in which he has one goal.
The teenager left Arsenal to join Blackpool on loan in the summer in search of regular game-time. And he is performing well in the EFL Championship, having managed a tally of two goals and assists each from 15 league appearances.
A midfielder who can operate as an interior or as a pivot, Patino has represented the England national team across various age-group levels as well and is seen as one of the brightest young talents in the country.
Patino’s potential has seemingly put him on the radars of Barcelona, who already have some top young midfielders in Pedri and Gavi while Pablo Torre is also an exciting talent at Xavi’s disposal.
But they wish to add Patino to this contingent as well, although Arsenal are said to be planning to start contract negotiations with the 19-year-old soon, meaning it could be difficult to pry him away from the Emirates.