Francisco Trincão: 6 Things to Know About Barcelona's Incoming Portuguese Starlet

Football may be in the midst of a hiatus but Barcelona are still hoovering up Europe's most exciting prospects, the latest coming in the form of Francisco Trincão. 

The Portuguese 20-year-old was signed by the Catalans on January transfer deadline day this year and loaned back to his former side, Braga, for the remainder of the campaign. 

Trincão is set to join up with Barcelona on 1 July, although this may be subject to change given the real possibility of neither the Portuguese nor Spanish top flight campaigns concluding by this date due to the coronavirus outbreak. 

Nevertheless, let's take this time as an opportunity to find out about the winger who ​Barcelona fought off competition for, ahead of his move to Spain, whenever that may be. 

Under-19 European Champion

Two years after the nation claimed the senior title, Portugal's Under-19 side won their own continental crown with a team spearheaded by Trincão. 

The future ​Barcelona player was the tournament's top scorer with five goals and most prolific creator with three assists as his nation defeated a talented Italy side in the final - in which Trincão scored. 

Made to Wait

Despite lighting up the tournament the then 18-year-old Trincão would be afforded just 83 minutes of league football with Braga's first team the following season as coach Abel Ferreira clearly didn't trust the teenager. 

However, Ferreira left for PAOK in the summer and while his replacement Ricardo Sá Pinto gave Trincão more time it has been since the turn of the year and under Rúben Amorim where the youngster has been given licence to flourish. 

The 35-year-old Amorim took over Braga in January, going unbeaten against Portuguese opposition as Trincão featured in every game - scoring six league goals in 2020. Yet, this partnership will not be resumed this season as Amorim was poached by Sporting CP at the start of March, shortly before football was suspended. 

Tactically Flexible

The left-footed winger, in his limited time at the senior level, has most often found himself high on the right flank of Braga's 3-4-3. However, he is more than comfortable anywhere across the front line as he frequently finds himself in the middle of the pitch to help with the build-up or exploit the space between the opposition lines. 

This flexibility bodes well for Trincão as he joins an attacking system at Barcelona where the entire team pivots around the movements of ​Lionel Messi.

Used to a Smaller Stage

Braga average less than half the capacity of their 30,000-seater stadium, while Barcelona boast one of the biggest grounds in Europe drawing an average crowd of more than 70,000 at the Camp Nou. 

This is a completely different scale of scrutiny and his former coach Sá Pinto has expressed concerns: "Nevertheless, no one can expect him to hit the ground running and make the difference right away," as quoted by ​Bleacher Report. 

Sá Pinto also cited the struggles much more established players than Trincão have faced this season: "Not even [Antoine] Griezmann has been able so far to replicate the same level he had before. But the talent is there, and so is the mentality. Trincão is, above all, a joy to watch."

€500m Buyout Clause

Barcelona secured the signing of Trincão on the final day of the January transfer window when the 20-year-old had made just four league starts in his career, which all came in the month the transfer was made. 

Regardless of his lack of experience, the ​La Liga leaders parted ways with €31m and included an eye-watering €500m buyout clause in his contract which runs until 2025. 

Yet, the size of the fee may be understandable given every player in Spain is required to have a release clause in their contract and Barcelona have been stung before by setting the figure in Neymar's deal low enough that Paris Saint-Germain could match it. 

Tipped for Greatness

According to Braga president Antonio Salvador, Trincão will be the player of the next decade. Big words.

Speaking to fans on social media, Salvador said (as quoted by ​Maisfutebol): "We already know that we are going to lose one of the great players, one that I consider the best...that will mark a decade from now on, which is Trincão."

Trincão has also been ranked as the best under-23 player in world football by stats portal 'Goalpoint' - ahead of the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland - something which has been gleefully picked up on by the Catalan press.