Barcelona Transfer News: Barca Fight for Vinicius Junior, Marco Verratti Rumours

Barcelona and Real Madrid are ready to battle each other to sign Brazilian teenager Vinicius Junior, but Manchester United have reportedly moved first to initiate talks for the potential future superstar.

The 16-year-old Flamengo striker has impressed at the South American under-17 championship, and his scoring prowess has alerted Europe's biggest sides.

Spanish news outlet Sport (h/t Liam Spence of the Express) reported the El Clasico teams will instigate "a tug of war" for the youngster, but United have moved quickest to beat the Spanish giants to the punch. Scouts from La Liga's superclubs have watched the burgeoning talent, but Flamengo President Kleber Leite revealed the Red Devils have been in discussions over the possibility of a transfer.

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According to Jack Lang of The Independent, Leite said the club have turned down United's first advances:

"

[Flamengo general director Fred Luz] told me that he was contacted a while ago by a representative of Manchester United, who wanted to discuss the possibility of them having priority for a transfer.

The talks didn't get far, because Fred Luz told them plainly that future discussions would depend on the immediate payment of a sum that would give them priority among offers of equal value.

At that point, the Englishman, who thought it was going to be a piece of cake, left and didn't return.

"

Here is the teenager in action:

In other Barca news, the Camp Nou giants are being linked with a huge offer for Paris Saint-Germain star Marco Verratti—and one of the club's legends has given his blessing to the interest.

Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo (h/t Alex Martin for Mail Online) reported the Blaugrana "see [a] new midfielder as the priority ahead of the summer transfer window," and Verratti is the "perfect candidate for what they need."

Xavi Hernandez recently lauded the player and said he would be the ideal compliment to Barca's style of football.

According to Le Parisien (h/t Goal), Xavi said:

"

Verratti would be the ideal signing for Barcelona in my opinion.

I think Verratti is a bit like me. He always goes in search of the ball quite deep on the pitch and then takes it forward and dictates play.

Verratti is small just like me and he never loses the ball. His technique is incredible.

He is a player I would love to see at Barcelona.

"

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According to Mundo Deportivo, Verratti is unsettled in the French capital, but the Ligue 1 champions view the player as "unsellable." However, Verratti has ordered his agent to find him a new club after "growing disillusioned with the French media." Martin wrote L'Equipe have been critical of the midfielder's displays in recent times. 

Following the defeat to Barca in the UEFA Champions League, Verratti explained his frustrations, per Martin:

"

Take three goals in seven minutes, I cannot find an explanation, it's football. This is a game I will never forget. I hope it will serve as a lesson to everyone.

We must find the strength to raise our heads. You have to be men. We are all sad. We lost 6-1, it's not because of the referee. We are primarily responsible.

"

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Verratti's stock has continued to grow just when PSG have hit a stumbling point in their status in European football.

If Barca aggressively pursue the player in the current climate, it would be impossible for the Italian to say no to the La Liga champions.

The 24-year-old defensive midfielder has featured 27 times for the French club in Ligue 1 and the Champions League this term, according to WhoScored.com, making him an experienced option for the Catalan side with plenty of time on his side to develop further in the years to come.