Barça is planning its squad for next season and it's clear about one thing: it will only spend money where there aren't great prospects from La Masia. This is the idea and the plan to follow, with Hansi Flick having accepted it willingly. The German has been a regular in the stands at Johan Cruyff or Ciutat Esportiva, where he has closely followed the performances of the youngest culers.
Taking advantage of the fact that he will be able to have a long and well-prepared preseason, Hansi Flick's idea is to draft some of the youngest players to the first culer team. Among other academy players, the German plans to draft Ibrahim Diarra, the African forward who has spent six months at La Masia. Sport has discovered that the Malian will have the chance to show the quality he possesses in the first training sessions of the 2025-26 season.
Ibrahim Diarra joined Barça's academy last January, when he turned 18 years old. He did so in style, being one of the stars of the last U-17 World Cup. Despite this, he has struggled during his adaptation process: he was not included for Barcelona Atlètic, which has been relegated, but little by little he started to be included in Juvenil A.
In the final stage of the campaign, he has shown why Barça paid almost €2 million (almost €2 million) for him coming from Africa. He was key in winning the Youth League, scoring a brace in the final and providing an assist, helping to win this trophy.
Ibrahim Diarra, the gem of the academy who delights Hansi Flick
FC Barcelona has a diamond in the rough on its hands: Ibrahim Diarra. The young African forward, who arrived in Barcelona on January 1 after turning 18 years old, is already starting to generate excitement within the club. His signing went somewhat unnoticed at the time, but within Barça's offices, it's clear that he's one of the most promising attacking projects in recent years.
Ibrahim Diarra stands out for his speed, ability to unbalance in one-on-one situations, and capacity to play in all three attacking positions, although he shines most on the right wing. He has dribbling skills, power, and a great understanding of the game in the opponent's half. It's no coincidence that Hansi Flick, the new first-team coach, has already set his sights on him. The German wants to see him up close in the next preseason, and it's possible that he'll get minutes with the senior team.
The club trusts that Diarra can follow in the footsteps of Lamine Yamal, Gavi, or Fermín. His development will be key for Barça's future. The talent is there, and everything suggests that Ibrahim Diarra will not take long to make a name for himself in European soccer.