Yusuf Demir
The soaring of ÖFB team player Yusuf Demir continues. The 18-year-old is moving up to the Barca pros and is getting a new number.
Yusuf Demir follows in the footsteps of Neymar Jr. at FC Barcelona. After the transfer window has expired, the young Austrian star will join the professional squad and will be wearing the number 11 on his back. Many Blaugrana fans will still associate this with superstar Neymar.
The Brazilian is now playing with his former Barca colleague Lionel Messi at PSG. The Catalans are in a state of upheaval. Demir is about to develop into one of the new stars of the Spanish top club.
On Tuesday, the last day of the summer transfer window, Barca sold out star striker Antoine Griezmann (Atletico return) to bring on Seville striker Luuk de Jong.
For Demir this means: The regular eleven is getting closer and closer for the Viennese. For him, De Jong is not a competitor in the fight for playing times. Griezmann, who often came out of the stage, was, however, very likely.
In addition to Demir, only seven other offensive players appear in the 25-man squad. Memphis Depay is set. The same applies to Sergio Kun Agüero – but he is injured. Ousmane Dembele is also out injured. Youngster Ansu Fati recently celebrated his return to the field after two operations. De Jong and Martin Braithwaite tend to be at the forefront. The Dane can also play on the grand piano.
Philippe Coutinho hasn't been very popular at Barca since arriving from Liverpool. The Brazilian was meanwhile loaned to Bayern. Coach Ronald Koeman has not relied on him either.
Striking: Álex Collado, who was until recently a Demir competitor, does not appear in the professional squad. A transfer to Sheffield United fell at the last second on Tuesday.
Demir is the only left-footed player in the squad of all offensives. Defense chief Gerard Pique compared his dribbling style at the start of the season with that of Leo Messi. Coach Koeman praises the ÖFB jewel in the highest tones. Demir played in all five friendlies, four times from the start. He made his competitive debut in the second round of La Liga – at the age of 18 as the youngest non-Spaniard at Barca since Messi.
