With Europe’s footballing elite always on the lookout for the globe’s most talented teenagers, Barcelona have gone even younger and signed nine-year-old Zico Jr. Marecaldi.
An agreement was reached between Barcelona and Swedish side BK Olympic for the move of the talented youngster. There will however be no compensation, as Swedish rules prevent players from registering fully until they are 12 years and older.
While most players who are signed to the La Liga champions speak about the great history of the club, the amazing talent on show every week at the Nou Camp but Zico showed his youth when commenting on the move.
"It's going to be cool," said Zico Jr., to Swedish daily Skanska Dagbladet.
His father, Antonio, said there was some some doubt when Zico found out he would have to spend time away from his family, but quickly decided that he wanted to go.
“Zico was obviously very happy (when Barcelona said they wanted him), but his first reaction when he found out that he would be staying at the boarding school was that he cried and said he did not want to leave me.
But 20 minutes later, he had already decided it was a good idea. Otherwise we would have called off the whole thing,” said Antonio.
Keep your eye out for this future superstar, but you will have to wait at least a decade before seeing Zico Jr. make his Barca debut.
Related Articles:
Read: Messi Motivated By Bayern Humiliation
Follow us on Twitter:@Soccer_Laduma