Hansi Flick, Barcelona manager
Hansi Flick, Barcelona manager
According to SPORT, Hansi Flick has identified Ebrima Tunkara and Orian Goren as two Barcelona academy prospects that he wishes to keep close to the senior team.
However, at the same time, the German tactician is in no rush to push either of them into the spotlight right away and intends to take a measured approach with their integration.
Goren, 17, has already established himself as an important player for Barça Atletic.
Despite still being a second-year youth player, the midfielder is a regular under Juliano Belletti, playing six games and registering two assists. On the back of his performances, the teenager has earned his maiden national team call-up with Israel.
He was the academy youngster who lasted the longest in Flick’s first-team group during pre-season.
Orian Goren, Barcelona player
Orian Goren is rated highly by Flick. (Picture courtesy: Instagram/@orian_goren)
The La Masia talent was also involved in the Joan Gamper Trophy match and played a few minutes in the Catalans’ traditional curtain-raiser for the season.
As for Tunkara, the 16-year-old attacking midfielder is widely regarded as the next most exciting talent coming through La Masia after Lamine Yamal.
Despite his age and the fact that he is still a first-year youth player, the youngster has been handed the No. 10 shirt at Barça Atletic, for whom he has one assist in three games this term.
He also featured prominently in the pre-season with the first team and made a big impression.
“Ebrima Tunkara and Orian Goren have really impressed me during this training camp; they’re incredibly talented and are proving it,” Flick had said about the pair during pre-season.
Ebrima Tunkara, Alejandro Balde, Barcelona players
Ebrima Tunkara is one of La Masia’s most exciting talents. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Tunkara and Goren’s involvement with the Barcelona senior team has not been limited to pre-season.
As injuries created openings in the senior squad in recent weeks, both players began appearing in Flick’s matchday squads.
Goren was included in the squad for El Clasico against Real Madrid and more recently in the UEFA Champions League clash against Aston Villa.
Meanwhile, Tunkara was named in the squad for the La Liga match against Alaves. However, UEFA rules restrict him from appearing for the first team in the Champions League.
For now, Flick’s plan is to keep both players involved with the first-team group in training regularly while ensuring that they get minutes playing for Barça Atletic.