PSG poised to hijack top Barcelona target

The Catalan club had believed they were building momentum behind the scenes, yet fresh interest from Paris has changed the picture dramatically and turned the deal into a transfer battle.

With both clubs targeting elite youth talent for the future, the situation is suddenly looking far more complicated than Barcelona had hoped.

The player in question is Aboubacar Maiga, the highly rated Malian attacking midfielder often described as the “Malian Messi,” as reported by Diario Sport.

Barcelona were close to signing the 16-year-old from the Africa Foot Academy last summer, and he remains one of the brightest prospects in his age group.

Maiga’s technical quality, close control, and creativity in tight spaces have made him a standout target for clubs across Europe, and Barcelona had hoped their longstanding interest would give them the edge.

Instead, PSG is now pushing hard to enter the race and could exploit any hesitation from the Spanish side.

For Barcelona, this is a familiar and frustrating pattern. The club has built a strong reputation for identifying elite young players early, but that also means they are often forced to compete with wealthier rivals once a talent’s name becomes widely known.

Maiga fits that profile perfectly, but the presence of PSG means the deal may now depend on speed as much as persuasion.

If Barcelona does not move quickly, they risk seeing another major target slip away.

For now, the contest is wide open, but PSG’s late intervention has made things much more dangerous for Barcelona.

What once looked like a manageable pursuit is now a genuine hijack threat, and the battle for the Malian teenager could intensify rapidly in the coming weeks.