One of the biggest problems that Barcelona must prepare themselves for is the eventual departure of Lionel Messi. Even if the Argentine does not leave at the end of the season, he will have to retire one day and then there will be a huge hole in the team. The club has been trying to find a suitable replacement for years and there have been a ton of “new Messis’” but none of those players could ever materialize into the hype surrounding them. Now there is a new kid on the block and all big teams are scouting him including the Catalans.
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The player who has been deemed as the ‘Austrian Messi’, is currently just 17 years old but has gained a lot of hype over the years. Yusuf Demir joined the Rapid Vienna’s youth academy when he was only 10 years old and fought his way up to the very top. He made his debut for the first team when he was only 16 years and 196 days of age which made him Rapid’s youngest ever player.
The player has already shown his potential in the Mercedes Benz Junior cup. He was the youngest player in the prestigious tournament two years in a row. The first time in2019, he was only 15 years old and his team came second, the next year Rapid won the tournament after beating RB Leipzig 4-0.
The player’s performance gave him the boost to the main team and he is on his way to becoming a regular at the club. His progress was hindered a bit due to coronavirus but now he has recovered and regularly features at the club. He has already scored five goals in all competitions, including one in the UEFA Champions League Qualifiers against KAA Gent. They lost the match 2-1 however.
The player is extremely versatile and can play anywhere in the midfield, which makes him a very desirable player for other clubs. He has a strong left foot and brilliant vision. He can find extraordinary passes and can make decent runs himself. He has enough skills to dribble past defenders and unleash a powerful shot from distance. His powerful left foot also makes him a dead-ball specialist.
The player’s contract is running out in 2022 and Rapid knows that the player wants a move away. He is very ambitious and wants to win the top-level trophies. Thus they would be willing to sell him off next season as they cannot risk losing him for free. The problem for Barcelona however, is that they are not the only ones interested in the player. Clubs like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Manchester United have all shown an active interest in the blooming player.
Should Barca consider signing the youngster?