Barcelona and Real Madrid monitoring 17-year-old Chelsea academy gem dubbed the ‘Moroccan Messi’ | OneFootball

While FC Barcelona are looking to make several moves aimed at strengthening their first team with some notable names, the Catalans are also not oblivious to some of the top talents emerging in Europe or in other parts of the world.

In this regard, the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations has become an important scouting ground for several top clubs, and according to SPORT, the young Moroccan winger Ibrahim Rabbaj is one player who has particularly caught Barcelona’s attention.

In fact, the Spanish outlet cites Win Win to claim that both Barcelona and Real Madrid are monitoring the player closely and could make a move for him from January 2027 onwards, when he turns 18 years old.

The youngster, who is currently shining in Chelsea’s youth system, is widely regarded as one of the biggest young talents in Moroccan football right now.

Nicknamed the ‘Moroccan Messi’, Rabbaj has been one of the standout performers at the tournament in Morocco, where he has impressed with his technical quality, quick feet, and ability to create danger consistently in the final third.

Comfortable playing on either wing, the attacker stands out particularly for his ability in tight spaces and his speed in 1v1 situations. Along with his goalscoring ability, Rabbaj is also known for his vision and creativity, making him one of the most highly rated young attacking prospects currently coming through Chelsea’s academy ranks.

Born in England but representing Morocco at the youth level, Rabbaj joined Chelsea from Crystal Palace back in 2021, and the London side moved quickly to secure his long-term future with a contract running until 2028.

He has also been impressing in England’s U-21 competitions, further strengthening his reputation as one of the brightest talents in the club’s youth setup.

Naturally, Barcelona are not the only side keeping tabs on the youngster, with more European clubs expected to enter the race in the coming months. However, the Blaugranes remain attentive to market opportunities involving highly promising young players, and Rabbaj is clearly a profile that fits the kind of talent they continue to monitor for the future.