Chelsea and Barcelona are reportedly interested in 16-year-old Portuguese winger Cardoso Varela, and they are tracking his progress at Dinamo Zagreb.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Chelsea and Barcelona are keen on Cardoso Varela. The two European bigwigs are scouring the market for a highly-rated young attacking prospect. So, the high-profile outfits have set their sights on the 16-year-old Dinamo Zagreb winger, and they are closely monitoring his progress at the Croatian club.
Who is Cardoso Varela?
Cardoso Varela is the latest wonderkid to rise in prominence in his homeland. Portugal has a rich history of producing world-class attackers in every generation, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo, and Eusebio among the finest forwards of all time. In particular, many have emanated from the fabled FC Porto youth division, and the Luanda native was with the Dragoes until 2024.
A left-winger by trade, the 16-year-old can also play on the right flank and is known for his lethal change of pace and exquisite vision. Meanwhile, Varela has been with Dinamo Zagreb since February 2025, and he has made considerable progress in Croatia while breaking into the club’s first-team squad.
The Portuguese attacking sensation has already made six appearances thus far for FC Porto while accumulating 179 minutes of game time. Meanwhile, Varela’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs. Barcelona and Chelsea are among the prospective suitors vying for his signature.
High in demand
Cardoso Varela has been on Barcelona’s radar for a long time. The continued interest is hardly surprising, as the Catalan giants have a youth-driven approach to team building, with Gavi, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, and Pau Cubarsi becoming regulars for the senior side in their teens. Varela may be the next piece of the puzzle, as his age profile makes him an ideal successor to Raphinha.
As for Chelsea, the Blues have been infamous for hoarding highly-rated prodigies, with Estevao Willian the latest wonderkid to make his mark for the first team. Varela has thus understandably become a target for Chelsea.
However, Chelsea cannot bring the 16-year-old Portuguese attacking sensation to West London until he turns 18. So, Barcelona may have an advantage in the race to sign Varela from Dinamo Zagreb.