'Similar to Messi’ is how one teammate has described youngster Francisco Trincao who back in January Newcastle United were credited with an interest in.
Portuguese media had claimed that Magpie scouts had kept a close eye on the 20-year-old before he finally sealed a €31 million move to Barcelona at the end of the window.
Having only scored his first goal for Braga, where he remains on loan, in December 2019, the move to the La Liga giants may have come as a shock to some but not to the Abel Ruiz, a teammate at Braga, who ironically is on loan from Barcelona.
Speaking to a Mundo Deportivo, Ruiz, who will move permanently to Braga in the summer, said: “Trincao is an incredible player with lots of character and remarkable quality.
“He’s a great dribbler, he can go past his man either side, on the right, on the left and he’s got a very good shot.
“He’s a very complete player - I say he is similar to Messi.
“He is more than ready, he is perfectly capable of playing there and he’ll do with very well.
“We don’t know how the squad will be made up next season but obviously he’ll have competition.
“Great teams have great players in all positions and he’ll have to win himself a place just like anywhere else.”
Newcastle’s interest was claimed by OJogo in Portugal while sources claim that it is Trincao’s teammate Ricardo Horta who has caught United’s eye.
