At just 16 years old, Ebrima Tunkara is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about talents in the FC Barcelona youth academy.
The teenage La Masia prodigy already made history this season when he became one of the youngest players to make their debut for the Barcelona reserve team, Barça Atletic.
Ebrima Tunkara pushing for a first-team call-up
Now, SPORT reports that after enjoying a fine season with Barça Atletic and the Juvenil A (U19) sides, Ebrima is already knocking on the Barcelona first-team doors.
In fact, as per the report, a pre-season call-up under Hansi Flick in the upcoming summer cannot be ruled out.
Coaches at the Barcelona academy see Ebrima as a special kind of player, full of raw potential, but still developing. So much so that even now, they are still figuring out his best position on the pitch.
Naturally an attacking midfielder, Ebrima stands out more for his individual flair than his control of the game. That is why this season he has often been used as a wide player rather than in a central role, especially with Juvenil A.
Coaches feel he is not quite ready yet to dictate play, but his ability to beat defenders makes him a constant threat. That same logic has been applied in his early appearances with the reserve side, where he has also been used mainly out wide.
Ebrima played a key role as Juvenil A sealed the league title with a 9-0 win over UD Montecarlo. He stole the spotlight with the most eye-catching goal of the match.
It was the kind of moment that explains the hype. He received the ball at the edge of the box, spun 360 degrees to beat his marker, then calmly chipped the goalkeeper.
Next step: Reserve team promotion
As things stand, all signs point to Ebrima playing a bigger role with Barça Atletic next season. With the squad expected to change after missing out on promotion from the RFEF Segunda Division, there will be space for younger players to step up.
At the same time, the feeling is that Ebrima is already very close to the first team, and a spot in the pre-season under Flick may be a possibility.
