Palmeiras sporting director Alexandre Mattos has revealed how he convinced Barcelona to sign Matheus Fernandes in January.
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.