Report – 16-year-old Barcelona jewel set to sign three-year contract extension today | OneFootball

Barcelona’s youth players have been the support behind the team’s return to the elite in recent seasons and it is clear that La Masia finally has recovered the prominence it once had.

The case a few years ago, however, was far different. The stars of the academy at that time including Carles Alena, Riqui Puig, Ilias Akomach, and Ilaix Moriba all found it relatively difficult to blend into the first-team dynamics.

The aforementioned players all left the club looking for more minutes, but Moriba was the only one who left despite having a role in the senior team as he opted to chase money. Unfortunately for him, however, his career soon went south.

Avoiding the same error

As relayed by Carlos Montfort in a recent report, Moriba’s brother Baba Kourouma is set to sign his first professional contract with Barcelona today.

The youngster will reportedly sign a three-year deal – the maximum permitted for underage players and is thus willing to commit the foreseeable future to his development in Catalonia.

The 16-year-old versatile star is well-recognized in the youth circuit and is widely seen as one of the more promising players in his position.

The only hurdle to his renewal was his age, and now that he is 16, he can sign his first professional contract with the club.

Kourouma is known for his versatility and ability to play multiple positions, something Eric Garcia has truly shown the value of possessing under Hansi Flick this season.

The youngster is a centre-back by trade but can also play as a left-back, or even a pivot midfielder. Furthermore, he can ply his trade even as an interior or on the flank if needed.