FC Barcelona are interested in young Belgian winger Jesse Bisiwu, who recently took part in the UEFA Youth League. Club representatives were recently spotted in Switzerland for the Final Four, specifically keeping tabs on the 18-year-old Club Brugge winger during the final against Real Madrid at the Stade de la Tuilière.
It was a bit of a frustrating outing for those looking to see him in action, though, as Bisiwu barely touched the pitch in a game that eventually went to penalties in favor of the Merengues.
It’s not the first time the club has watched Bisiwu, though. Sporting director Deco and scouting head João Amaral reportedly traveled to Belgium back in January and have continued to track him. That trip involved meetings with the player’s representative and his family. While his agent, Mobindi Marthi, was vocal about the interest shortly after that trip, the message coming out of the club has been a bit more measured.
The club reportedly sees the trip as part of a more general data-gathering mission rather than a finalized pursuit of just one player. Regardless, they must be tracking him for a reason. Bisiwu made a massive impression during the Under 17 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he was noted for his technical ability and pace. He followed that up with a standout performance in the Youth League quarter-finals against Atlético Madrid, scoring a high-quality goal in a dominant win.
However, his involvement dropped off during the final stages of the tournament. He played only 23 minutes in the semifinal against Benfica, and his appearance in the final was essentially a cameo. He entered the game in the final minute of regulation but appeared to pick up a knock on his very first involvement. He didn’t take part in the decisive penalty shootout, either.
Bisiwu is still under contract with Brugge, meaning Barcelona would have to negotiate a formal transfer fee to bring him to Catalonia.
