Barcelona lay out a roadmap to integrate African teenage gem ahead of impending arrival | OneFootball

Ibrahim Diarra has been a talking point at Barcelona for a long time now, with many reports in the past claiming that the club will be signing the Malian wonderkid once he turns 18 in December.

Now, a recent report from SPORT has offered insights into Barcelona’s clear roadmap for not only signing Diarra but also integrating him into the setup.

Barcelona looking to accelerate bureaucratic procedures

As per the report, Barcelona are not looking to waste any time registering Ibrahim Diarra, once he comes of age on December 12, 2024.

As such, the club have devised a detailed plan to accelerate bureaucratic processes, particularly in obtaining the necessary visa and documentation.

The Blaugrana hope to have him in Barcelona as soon as possible, with the expectation that he will start training with Barça Atlètic immediately after receiving his visa.

Deco is keen on registering Diarra as soon as possible (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

The goal is to prepare Diarra well ahead of his debut, familiarizing him with the team’s methodologies and ensuring a smooth transition into the club’s setup.

Diarra will also receive help from the likes of Abdul Aziz and David Oduro, who have encountered similar bureaucratic procedures.

Preparations for a January registration

The club invested heavily in Diarra, with an economic report revealing a total of €1.7 million paid to the African Foot Academy of Mali.

Once the winter transfer market opens on January 1, the plan is to register him immediately.

However, Barça Atletic will need to free up one of their 25 occupied licenses to make space for Diarra, which might necessitate at least one player’s exit.

Furthermore, as per the Cotonou treaty requirements, there is a chance Diarra will have to return to Mali temporarily to finalize his documentation before making his official debut.