Football
Sam Marsden, Barcelona correspondent 7y

Palmeiras defender Yerry Mina excited by Barcelona interest

Colombia defender Yerry Mina has said it is exciting to be a Barcelona target but added that he intends to stay at Palmeiras for the time being.

Mina, 22, was part of the Palmeiras side that won the Brazilian title and has said he is happy to put a move to Europe on ice.

Barca are following his progress and have an option to sign him for €9 million which they are reportedly keen to take up.

"Everything is going really fast, but I'm happy with what's happening to me," Mina told Diario Sport.

"I'm happy and excited because, as they say, Barca is more than a club. Every day I get up and think I'm doing things well because Barca are paying attention to me."

Mina had the chance to move to the Blaugrana when he left Santa Fe last year, although he would have been playing for the B team -- a path similar to that taken by Marlon Santos.

He instead opted to make the switch to Brazil and said: "I came to Palmeiras to continue learning. I think it was the right decision.

"Palmeiras are a big club, have a good team and I knew they'd be fighting for the league title.

"I have objectives for 2017: to do well, with my mind 100 percent focused on doing things well with Palmeiras and after that, to try to go to Europe. Everything has its time."

Sport reported that Barcelona must now decide how to push through their option to sign Mina.

One option would be for them to finalise the deal before June but to leave the player on loan at Palmeiras until the end of the Brazilian season.

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