Real Betis defender Emerson is focused on a future Barcelona career after debuting for Brazil this week, say Diario Sport.
The 20-year-old initially joined the Blaugrana in January from Atletico Mineiro in a €12.7m deal in a convoluted operation in which both Barcelona and Real Betis paid for half that sum each.
Both clubs now co-own the right-back but he has exclusively played for Betis since his arrival, with Barca’s option to sign him permanently for €6m set to kick in from the summer of 2021.
“I started my career at just 16 then three years later I am at Betis, but I am owned by Barcelona and in the Brazilian national squad,” Emerson claimed, in quotes recently carried by Diario Sport.
“My career has only just begun but my aims are to win the Champions League and the World Cup.
“My adaptation to Spain has been excellent, not only on the football pitch but also with the food, the people and the language, a lot of it reminds me of Brazil.
“My dream is to succeed as a Barcelona player, to make history and start by winning titles.”
A recent report in ESPN FC suggests that the Catalan giants may bring that move forward 12 months to the end of the current campaign, amid suggestions they may sell Nelson Semedo.
The Portugal international has been linked to both Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid this year and such a sale, coupled with Emerson’s incoming, would bring in a significant profit.
Emerson has played for Brazil and Under-20 and Under-23 level and scored his first Betis goal in their 5-1 loss at Villarreal last month.
He made his debut for the senior national team this week, coming on as a substitute against South Korea.
