Barcelona’s 16-year-old midfielder Ibrahima Tunkara catches Hansi Flick’s eye as La Masia starlet stakes first-team claim

Barcelona midfielder Ibrahima Tunkara is emerging as one of the standout stories of the club’s pre-season, with the 16-year-old impressing Hansi Flick so strongly that the new head coach is now considering keeping him with the first team rather than sending him to the reserves as initially planned.

Tunkara, a Spain youth international of Gambian origin and the only player in the squad born in 2010, has been training throughout pre-season with Flick’s senior group. According to Catalan newspaper Sport, sources close to the club say the German coach had no hesitation in including the teenager among a sizeable contingent of academy players for the summer camp – and has been struck by his physical presence, technical quality and power.

His level in training has reportedly surprised several established first-team players who had not previously worked with him on a regular basis, underlining how quickly he has adapted to the demands around Barcelona’s senior set-up.

Instant impact in pre-season opener

Tunkara underlined that training-ground promise in Barcelona’s first pre-season friendly, a 4-1 win over CE Europa on Friday. Coming off the bench at the Tito Vilanova pitch, he needed just three minutes on the pitch to score Barcelona’s third goal.

After receiving a pass from Alex Gonzalez, Tunkara drove forward and finished emphatically, finding the net in eye-catching fashion despite close defensive pressure. The goal came shortly after Flick had made wholesale changes to his line-up at half-time, using the second period to give minutes to a raft of younger players.

For Tunkara, the cameo served as an early proof that his pre-season form is not limited to the training sessions that have so impressed Flick and his staff.

First-team stay now a realistic option

The original plan for the coming campaign was for Tunkara to play with Barcelona’s reserve side. However, his performances in the first phase of pre-season have left the door open for an alternative scenario, with all options now considered to be on the table – including remaining with the senior squad.

That possibility is enhanced by Barcelona’s current personnel issues. Ronald Araujo, Alejandro Balde and Fermin are all sidelined through injury, reducing Flick’s options as he pieces together his squad for the new season. In addition, Marc-Andre ter Stegen is reportedly close to securing a loan move to Ajax, which would further alter the balance of the dressing room.

Within that context, Tunkara’s emergence offers Flick an internal solution and another reason to keep him in close proximity to the first team rather than returning him immediately to the lower ranks.

England tour to provide further test

Barcelona are now preparing for a pre-season tour of England, with Flick expected to maintain the core group that has been working with him since the start of summer training. Several senior players remain absent, as all of the Spain internationals, Jules Kounde and Gordon are still on holiday following their involvement at the 2026 World Cup.

Sport’s report adds that Flick intends to monitor Tunkara very closely during the trip to England. While the midfielder still has much to learn – as would be expected at his age – the coaching staff view his potential as considerable and see him as one of the most exciting prospects currently emerging from La Masia.

Tunkara is the youngest player in the current pre-season group, yet his strong physique and high technical level have allowed him to compete with, and in some cases outperform, older team-mates. Inside the club, his trajectory is already being talked about as the latest example of Barcelona’s famed academy producing a possible future star for the first team.