FC Barcelona continue to invest in the youth of tomorrow, and their interest in these talents remains relentless. Knowing that they have limited financial resources, the Catalans have turned away from the prospect of signing superstars. Instead, Barcelona now primarily focuses on the youngsters who can lead the team tomorrow.
While it is true that these players are a low-cost alternative to already established stars, that is not the only factor in convincing Barcelona. The actual merit and quality of these youngsters is the primary factor that catches the eye of La Blaugrana and ultimately set them apart from their peers.
One such player was Mali-born winger Ibrahim Diarra, who Barcelona tied down near November of last year. Already having an agreement in place to join the Catalan club, the 17-year-old forward is expected to be part of Barcelona Atletic officially in December of 2024.
However, ahead of his official incorporation, the player has already taken a massive step. As highlighted by SPORT, Diarra has already arrived in Spain and is currently in Barcelona. Moreover, he has already started training with his future Barcelona Atletic teammates in the hopes of getting a head-start when it comes to his adaptation to Barça’s way of playing.
His official incorporation has been set to December because that is when he finally becomes of age. The Mali forward is currently 17, and once he turns 18 at the end of the year he will end up joining the club. He would then consequently become Rafa Marquez’s new recruit and help his side out.
A promising winger, he is comfortable playing on either the left or right. Moreover, he possesses the technical qualities and understanding of the game to play as an interior too. Yet, that is not all that he has shown himself being capable of showcasing.
In the Under-17 FIFA World Cup in Indonesia, Diarra truly shined and showed Barcelona what he brings to the table. He contributed 9 goals to his National team in the competition, scoring 5 goals directly and assisting 4. His participation was crucial in helping Mali beat Argentina to the last spot on the podium, scoring and assisting in the third-place match by himself.
