Hansi Flick, FC Barcelona’s coach, will be evaluating a young player as he prepares for pre-season, and perhaps find another La Masia talent.
According to a report by Diario Sport, Flick is expected to include a few youth players in first-team training, and it seems like he has his eye on a razzle-dazzle forward.
Given how first-team transfers are uncertain, the pattern will allow the academy player a chance to earn a spot on FC Barcelona’s Asian tour, which is a key opportunity for young players to shine.
The player of note is Ibrahim Diarra, an 18-year-old Malian striker who joined Barcelona’s academy in December 2024, as reported by Diario Sport.
The second half of the season made for a difficult adjustment coming in mid-season, compounded by his body maintenance and paperwork to finalize, which prevented him from wetting his beak in the first team.
Now that he has settled into his environment, he has earned the trust of his coaches, and now they are ready to see how he impresses Hansi Flick.
Hansi Flick has plans to include players like Diarra in pre-season training, recognizing that Diarra is included with other La Masia players like Toni Fernandez and Jofre Torrents.
In these post’s posts, Diarra is also noted for being big and strong and for being a goal-scoring, poised player.
Flick’s loyalty to young players, as evidenced in previous decisions like promoting Marc Casado, lays the foundation for Diarra’s debut.
The pre-season, which begins on July 13, 2025, at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, will be immensely important as Flick will be examining his players for the Asian tour squad.
Diarra’s inclusion indicates that Barcelona is prioritizing introducing youth into their squad, given the economic implications of club development, potentially providing a sustainable option for the club as opposed to expensive club acquisitions.
If successful in these practices, Diarra’s profile could rise to comparable heights to that of Lamine Yamal.
Fans are left in anticipation to see if this young striker can take the opportunity and earn a steady place in Flick’s future.
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