Barcelona face PSG hijack threat for “Malian Messi”
Barcelona face PSG hijack threat for “Malian Messi” Barcelona’s long-standing pursuit of emerging African talent has hit a fresh complication, with Paris Saint-Germain now entering the race for highly-rated youngster Aboubacar Maiga. According to fresh developments from SPORT , the Catalan giants are no longer alone in their admiration for the player widely dubbed the “Malian Messi” . Barcelona’s interest in Maiga is not new.
In fact, the club had already taken concrete steps last year to secure his future. Barcelona were very close After being closely monitored by the scouting department, the young midfielder was given the green light to travel to Spain for an initial assessment phase. During that period, Maiga spent several days in Barcelona, integrating into the club’s environment and participating in multiple training sessions.
The experience left a strong impression on both sides, with everything pointing towards a long-term agreement. The plan was to allow the player to continue his development in his home country until he turned 18, the minimum age required to complete an international transfer under FIFA regulations, before finalising the move. However, just as the situation appeared to be progressing smoothly, a new twist has emerged.
PSG enter the race In a surprising turn of events, Maiga was recently spotted in Paris, where PSG wasted no time in assessing his potential. As per the report, the French champions invited the youngster for a trial at their academy. PSG took things a step further by including Maiga in their squad for the prestigious Olympia Future Cup, a competitive platform designed to test young players against elite opposition.
It suggests that PSG are not merely observing but actively considering a long-term investment in the Malian talent. Once the tournament concludes, the club’s coaching staff will make a final decision on whether to proceed with a contract offer, one that would likely be activated as soon as the player turns 18.