Barcelona face Arsenal, Real Madrid battle in race for 18-year-old African gem | OneFootball

After the impressive season that Mika Faye and Mamadou Mbacke had in 2023/24, FC Barcelona have begun investing more and more into African talents.

The Blaugrana sold Faye to Rennes this past summer for close to five times the transfer fee they had spent on his signing in 2023, but did so ensuring they have a buyback clause.

Meanwhile, Mbacke was signed on a permanent deal from LAFC, while Barça also brought in young talents like David Oduro and Abdul Aziz Issah.

Baye Coulibaly on the agenda

Now, as per reports relayed by Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona also have their sights set on another exciting young African talent in the form of Baye Coulibaly.

The 18-year-old Malian midfielder plays for NK Kustosija, the same club that the Blaugrana signed Faye from back in 2023.

As per the report, Barça were already talking to Coulibaly’s agents in the recent past because they considered him to be a very interesting player with great potential.

Barcelona signed David Oduro this past summer. (Photo courtesy: FC Barcelona official website)

In fact, the Catalans were already on the verge of signing him, but backed out because in January he will participate in the Africa Cup of Nations and they were not willing to lose the player for more than a month.

While Barcelona maintain their interest, this has allowed Real Madrid to sneak into the picture, with the reigning champions of Spain and Europe now eyeing a move for the 18-year-old.

Even though he is a defensive midfielder by trade, Coulibaly can operate as a centre-back and given their injury woes in defence this season, Los Blancos are weighing up a move for the teenager.

In addition to Barcelona and Real Madrid, Premier League giants Arsenal are also admirers of Coulibaly, who starred for Mali at the Under-17 FIFA World Cup last year.

It will thus be interesting to see whether the Blaugrana reopen talks with Coulibaly’s representatives, especially considering that the Africa Cup of Nations will be played in December 2025 and not in January.