Barcelona face blowback for signing 16-year-old as Porto write to La Liga side claiming agent 'kidnapped' winger in Croatia move

According to Record, Porto have reacted strongly to news that Barcelona are set to sign 16-year-old winger Varela, having reportedly triggered a €5 million release clause in his Dinamo Zagreb deal. The Portuguese club claim the player was “kidnapped” last year by his agent Andy Bara, who reportedly facilitated a move from Porto to a fourth-division Croatian club, paving the way for a later switch to Dinamo Zagreb and now potentially to Barca.

The Dragoes have written to both Barcelona and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) demanding clarity on the situation. Their management believes the case reflects a troubling trend where agents manipulate loopholes in FIFA’s youth transfer rules to bypass compensation systems.

The episode could also sour ties between Barcelona and Porto, who have long maintained a cooperative relationship. Deco, Barca’s sporting director and a former Porto player, is reportedly in an awkward position due to his links with those involved.

Varela couldn’t play competitive football for nearly a year after the controversial switch to Croatia. Bara, the agent in question, has existing links to Barcelona and represents several players like Dani Olmo and Joan Garcia.

The Catalan giants have yet to finalise the signing, but if they proceed, they could face formal complaints or legal actions at FIFA level. Porto’s lawsuit against the agent is ongoing, and any move could escalate the conflict. Barcelona may also need to tread carefully to preserve ties with Porto.