Palmeiras director: Barca thought I was crazy when I offered Matheus Fernandes

Palmeiras sporting director Alexandre Mattos has revealed how he managed to convince Barcelona to sign Matheus Fernandes.

The 21-year-old central midfielder signed for the Catalan club in January before being loaned out to Real Valladolid for the rest of the season.

"In October 2019, I called Andre Cury [a Barcelona scout in Brazil] and asked him to speak to [sporting director Eric] Abidal because I wanted to show him a player," Mattos told Fox Sports.

"Cury thought that it was Dudu.

"Abidal came to watch the Palmeiras reserves train. I told him, 'Watch No.35'.

"At that moment, they called me crazy: 'You want to sell a player from the Palmeiras reserves, who doesn't play much, to Barcelona?'"

However, Matheus Fernandes obviously impressed enough to secure a move to the Camp Nou.