FC Barcelona are tracking a player in Eli Junior Kroupi known as the ‘French Lamine Yamal’
FC Barcelona are tracking a young prodigy according to SPORT via Foot01, which the Catalan newspaper has referred to as ‘France’s Lamine Yamal’.
Lamine Yamal made headlines earlier this year when sealing his senior debut against Real Betis for Barca before turning 16 and becoming their youngest appearance maker of the 21st century.
In the summer, his showing against Tottenham Hotspur was described as the best Joan Gamper Trophy performance since a certain Lionel Messi versus Juventus in 2005.
Swiftly after, he was capped by the Spain national team and broke their records for youngest appearance maker and goalscorer.
Furthermore, netting in Blaugrana for the first time against Granada earlier this month saw him become the youngest player to get on the scoresheet in La Liga history as well.
All this aside, there are still talents budding elsewhere and Barca have to be attentive to what is going on outside of Catalonia.
According to SPORT via Foot01, both the club and their bitter rivals Real Madrid are tracking Eli Junior Kroupi.
The newspaper called him ‘France’s Lamine Yamal’, while he has also been compared to Kylian Mbappe in his homeland.
A year older than Lamine at 17, Eli Junior Kroupi is making waves at Lorient as one of Ligue 1’s brightest stars.
Making his debut for them on the final day of the season last term, he has transformed into a starter in 2023/2024 while notching three goals and two assists in eight appearances.
Two of those strikes came at the expense of one of the country’s most historically successful outfits in Olympique Lyonnais, with the 1.80 meter tall Kroupi standing out for his speed, nose for the net, and versatility.
The teenager can operate as an attacking midfielder, left winger or center forward, which has seen him compared to Kylian Mbappe.
Unlike the Paris Saint-Germain ace, however, who the Qatari-backed giants signed permanently for over $190 million from Monaco in 2018, Kroupi can be picked up far cheaper with his value currently estimated at around $8.5 million by Transfermarkt.
Lorient are reported to be aware that they have a diamond on their hands and are already working on a renewal offer to extend Kroupi’s terms beyond their current expiry date of June 30, 2026.
Whoever wants Kroupi must act quick;y, before his fee reaches the heights only achievable by the likes of PSG and Manchester City.
