Hansi Flick and Barcelona stars impressed by 16-year-old La Masia gem in pre-season – Report | OneFootball

Ebrima Tunkara is quickly becoming one of the standout stories of FC Barcelona’s preseason, with the 16-year-old midfielder catching the eye every time he steps onto the training pitch.

The La Masia talent is the youngest player training under Hansi Flick this summer, but his performances suggest he is more than capable of competing alongside far more experienced teammates.

According to SPORT, Tunkara has made a huge impression during the opening weeks of preseason. Despite being the only player born in 2010 involved with the first team, his physical development, technical quality and athleticism have surprised many inside the squad.

The teenager strengthened his growing reputation during Barcelona’s 4-1 victory over CE Europa by scoring shortly after coming on in the second half.

His goal arrived just three minutes after entering the match, finishing confidently after meeting Alex Gonzalez’s cross despite heavy defensive pressure.

While the fixture was viewed primarily as a preseason workout, it offered La Masia’s youngsters a valuable chance to impress Flick, and Tunkara was among those who made the biggest statement.

Barcelona have kept much of the current preseason group together for the training camp in England, particularly with several senior players still unavailable through injury, transfer uncertainty or extended summer holidays.

That means Tunkara will continue training alongside the first team for a little longer before eventually returning to Barca Atletic, where he is expected to spend most of the season.

Barcelona should not rush another special talent

The excitement surrounding Tunkara is easy to understand. His physical profile already looks unusual for a player of his age, while his confidence on the ball reflects the education he has received at La Masia.

Even so, Barcelona have learned the importance of balancing opportunity with patience. Not every gifted youngster needs to be fast-tracked immediately.

The best outcome would be for Flick to keep monitoring his progress while allowing him to develop through regular football with the reserve team whenever possible.

If Tunkara continues on this path, first-team opportunities will arrive naturally. The encouraging part for Barcelona is that another exciting academy product already looks comfortable in the senior environment.

For a club built on developing elite young players, that may be the most promising sign of all.