Barca ship striker Keirrison to Benfica on loan

Barcelona's new Brazilian striker Keirrison is being farmed out to Benfica on loan for next season.

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Keirrison salutes the Barca badge.

The 20-year-old joined the European champions from Palmeiras last week but has been immediately dispatched to the Portuguese club to gain experience.

With Zlatan Ibrahimovic having recently joined, the club also have strikers Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi and Bojan Krkic on their books.

As such Keirrison's role was likely to be limited in his first season and Benfica have stepped in with an offer of regular first-team football at the Estadio da Luz.

"I am very happy, Benfica are a big club that everyone knows," he told Globoesporte.

"Besides, playing in Portugal will make my adjustment to European football easier because of the language and also because of the many Brazilians that play in the team."

He may have a year at Benfica to come but the youngster admits he is already dreaming of playing alongside Ibrahimovic the following season.

"I met Ibra on Tuesday because we were at the same hotel," he said. "We spoke in English and he seemed like a really nice guy. He told me he will be waiting for me next year. It will be great to play alongside him in the future."