Brazil U-23 defender set for Barcelona loan move

Rio de Janeiro, June 26 (IANS) Barcelona are close to signing Brazil under-23 centre-back Marlon on a year-long loan from Fluminense, the media reported.

The Catalan club will be given the option of securing the 20-year-old on a permanent deal at the end of the 2016-17 season, according to Brazil's Uol news portal on Saturday, Xinhua reported.

Marlon has represented Brazil at both under-20 and under-23 level, and is expected to be named in Brazil's squad for the Rio Olympics in August.

The defender was omitted from Fluminense's squad for their Brazilian Serie A match against Flamengo in Natal on Sunday amid expectations of an imminent an agreement.

A product of Fluminense's youth academy, Marlon has made 69 appearances for the Rio de Janeiro club since his first-team debut in 2013.

--IANS

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