Newcastle United reportedly bid £21million to try and sign the next big superstar from Brazilian football.
Brazil sensation Eduardo Conceicao has insisted he is not letting the ongoing transfer speculation become a distraction.
Nicknamed “Dudu”, the teenage sensation wears the iconic No.10 jersey for the under-17 setup. As well as Newcastle United, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with the flamboyant forward.
South American outlets claimed last week that Palmeiras rejected a £21million bid from the Magpies. For context, he has a reported £86million release clause in his contract despite never making a first-team appearance.
Dudu has amassed almost 160,000 followers on Instagram and is being widely tipped as the next Brazilian superstar. Newcastle already boast a strong contingent, with Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton inspiring green and yellow flags around St James’ Park.
Brazil youngster speaks out
But using that link as leverage to secure a transfer could prove an uphill task given the level of clubs expressing interest. As it stands, the 16-year-old is ignoring the transfer talk - focusing on his development as he breaks through the Palmeiras ranks.
“The pressure is something natural for those who play for Palmeiras,” Dudu told Spanish outlet AS. “We are used to dealing with it from a young age. I admit I do not usually read the news about me.
“My daily goal is to be in the best possible condition to show my value on the pitch. My agent knows that I do not even like to keep up with what happens outside football. My family helps me a lot in that sense. They always remind me of the importance of keeping my feet on the ground.
“I am very grateful to Palmeiras. Everything I am as a player comes from the work the club has done since I arrived. Knowing that I am valued for what I do on the pitch makes me very happy. It gives me extra motivation to keep improving every day.”
Eduardo Conceicao reveals Palmeiras dream
For now, Conceicao is hellbent on featuring for Palmeiras’ first team - the initial goal before dreams of a European adventure can become reality. He added: “I am a calm guy, I avoid trouble. I like spending time with my family. When I am not training or playing, I am usually at home.
“In two years, I will still be very young. My dream is to have the opportunity to debut for Palmeiras’ first team and make a difference on the pitch, like others have done in recent seasons.”
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