'GloboEsporte': Barça has already paid for São Paulo's promising player Maia

São Paulo agreed on Monday to sell Gustavo Maia to FC Barcelona for 4.5 million euros, according to Brazilian media GloboEsporte. The Catalan team will acquire 70% of the rights of the 19-year-old forward, while the rest will remain with his training club for any future transfer of Maia.

Gustavo Maia's contract with São Paulo runs until June 30, 2022. He currently plays for São Paulo's reserve team and has not yet debuted in the Série A with the Brazilian team. His arrival at Barcelona will be to reinforce Barça B.

Barça secured a purchase option for Maia

Last March, FC Barcelona secured a purchase option for the young talent from São Paulo. The agreement was confirmed by the Brazilian club's manager, Alexandre Pássaro, to ESPN Brasil.

"We have sold a preferential purchase option for 5 million reais (about 930,000 euros). Barcelona can exercise the purchase option for 25 million reais (about 4.5 million euros) in the middle of the year if they wish," said Pássaro at the time.

Maia was one of the players that caught the attention of Barcelona scouts during a trip to South America last year, according to ESPN.

São Paulo vende atacante da base ao Barcelona por R$ 27 milhões https://t.co/Vcs7djTkKH pic.twitter.com/4Wz6p6gUOS

— globoesportecom (from ) (@globoesportecom) July 13, 2020