Barcelona fast-track 16-year-old Baba Kourouma: left-footed CB trains with Hansi Flick’s first team

Barcelona have accelerated the development of 16-year-old talent Baba Kourouma, a left-footed centre-back already scoring for the U19s, by inviting him to train with Hansi Flick’s first team. The youngster, brother of former La Masia graduate Ilaix Moriba, is drawing attention for his composure, ball-carrying and ability to pass through lines—traits aligned with Barça’s playing identity. Early debates among fans center on his optimal position and physical profile, but club coaches value his versatility across the back line and into midfield. For a team reshaping under Flick, Kourouma’s emergence adds fresh depth and balance to the defensive pipeline.

During recent sessions at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, Hansi Flick integrated standout La Masia performers into senior drills. Among them, Baba Kourouma—fresh off impactful displays and goals for Barcelona’s Juvenil A—earned a first-team training call. The club’s academy staff have tracked his progress across multiple roles, with internal evaluations highlighting his left-footed distribution and defensive anticipation. This follows a run of promising youth fixtures for the U19s and reflects Barcelona’s continued reliance on La Masia as the senior squad evolves.

🚨 Barcelona might have found another gem; and it runs in the family. Baba Kourouma, 16, brother of Ilaix Moriba, is already playing (and scoring) for Barça U19 and was recently called up by Hansi Flick for first-team training. He is left-footed center-back with huge promise,

@BarcaUniversal

Impact Analysis

Kourouma’s left foot instantly raises his value within Barcelona’s tactical ecosystem. Under Hansi Flick, Barça can toggle between a back four and asymmetrical structures that benefit from a natural left-sided distributor. In possession, a left-footed centre-back improves circulation angles toward the half-spaces, accelerates switches into the winger or full-back lane, and unlocks line-breaking passes into the No. 6 or interior midfielder. If Kourouma’s technique holds under senior pressure, he could provide the kind of balance Barça have carefully curated with Pau Cubarsí on the right and ball-progressing full-backs.

Physically, some observers question whether he will reach the aerial profile associated with elite centre-backs. That is a fair medium-term consideration, but modern defensive units mitigate height gaps through structure, rest defense and aggressive timing. Moreover, Kourouma’s reported versatility—covering at left-back or sliding into a double pivot—broadens his pathway to minutes without forcing his development. For Flick, who prizes compactness and quick restarts after regain, a defender comfortable stepping into midfield lanes can be a feature, not a bug.

Beyond the first team, his rise shores up succession planning. Barcelona’s calendar spans La Liga, European commitments and domestic cups: quality rotation pieces are essential. Even if his immediate future is with Juvenil A or Barça Atlètic, exposure to senior standards now raises his ceiling later, reducing recruitment pressure and reinforcing La Masia’s strategic importance.

Reaction

Fan discussion is already lively. Some celebrate another La Masia breakthrough—“La Masia sprouting kids steadily”—and hail the defender’s Barça DNA, with one supporter calling him “the next big thing for our defense.” Others offer pointed advice: a commenter argues he’d be a “perfect double pivot player or even a LB,” while another labels centre-back a “waste” for his profile. Height sparked debate too; one fan flagged a listed 176 cm and suggested a pivot or wing-back route to maximize traits in top-level duels.

Inevitable comparisons surfaced. A bullish post claimed he could be “better than his brother and Araujo,” while another urged he avoid the career missteps they feel derailed Ilaix Moriba’s trajectory: “If he likes, he should chase money at a very young age like his senior brother and then kill that career which haven’t started.” There’s also a hopeful benchmark against Pau Cubarsí, with one user wishing he’ll be “more like Cubarsí.”

Between the hype and skepticism, the tone skews optimistic. Supporters see a left-footed ball-winner who fits Barça’s positional play, while pragmatists stress role adaptation and physical development. For now, curiosity and excitement outrun doubt—training with the first team has a way of doing that.

Social reactions

La Masia sprouting kids steadily 😇

Adekunle 🇳🇬 (@cleverkay13)

Perhaps has learnt a lesson from his brother? How ??🤣

Ertornam💙❤️ (@Ertornam1)

He is only 176 cm in height. He may grow a little more but not abruptly I guess. His height will be a factor. He can play many positions. So better adopt to pivot or left wing back.

Sayan Dasgupta (@SayanDa29953961)

Prediction

Short term, expect Kourouma to remain primarily with Juvenil A while receiving periodic invitations to first-team sessions. If he stacks consistent U19 minutes—particularly in high-tempo fixtures and European youth nights—Barça will likely test him with Barça Atlètic to harden him against senior physicality. A winter or spring cameo in the Copa del Rey is plausible, especially if squad rotation intensifies or injuries open a lane. Flick’s staff will target controlled scenarios: late-game leads, left-sided rest-defense roles, or hybrid tasks stepping into midfield in a 4-2-3-1/3-2-2-3.

Medium term, two pathways beckon. If he grows into aerial duels, he can compete directly at LCB, complementing a right-sided organizer like Cubarsí. If his frame levels off, a tactical re-scope to inverted full-back or double pivot could accelerate his minutes while preserving his passing strengths. Either route keeps him inside the club’s positional game without forcing square pegs into round holes.

Long term, Barcelona will weigh squad architecture. With a left-footer emerging internally, the urgency to spend big on that profile eases. Should Kourouma meet internal benchmarks—decision speed, duel timing, and distribution under pressure—he can transition from training guest to reliable rotational option within 12–18 months, with a full first-team role targeted beyond that horizon.

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Conclusion

Barcelona’s identity has always leaned on homegrown solutions. In Baba Kourouma, they may have found a left-footed defender who ticks modern boxes: press resistance, progressive passing and tactical flexibility. The first-team training nod is not a coronation, but it is a confidence vote that his behaviors match senior standards. The surrounding noise—comparisons to Araujo, reminders from Ilaix Moriba’s path, even debates over centimeters—will fade if he continues to play forward, defend proactively and learn quickly within Barça’s structures.

There is no shortcut here; the club will pace his exposure and protect his decision-making. But the ingredients are present: a coach who trusts youth, a pathway through Barça Atlètic, and a squad that benefits from a natural left-side profile. If he embraces the grind—positioning, body shape, timing in duels—Kourouma can turn this opportunity into a lasting role. For now, he’s exactly where a promising 16-year-old should be: learning beside the very players he aims to one day replace.