French wonderkid Mamadou Coulibaly has reportedly decided to stay put at AS Monaco, thereby handing Barcelona a blow in his pursuit.
According to a report by French outlet Foot Mercato, Mamadou Coulibaly will stay put at AS Monaco beyond the summer transfer window. The development has ended Barcelona’s hopes of prising the 18-year-old wonderkid away from the principality club ahead of the 2022/23 season.
Mamadou Coulibaly is widely regarded as one of the most prodigious young midfielders in France, with the teenage prodigy coming leaps and bounds since in the AS Monaco youth setup. The French prospect is a technically gifted player who can play as a holding midfielder and a box-to-box midfielder.
The 18-year-old wonderkid is still some way from breaking into the AS Monaco first-team setup. But he has been impressive for their under-19 side, amassing ten goals and six assists thus far this term. Coulibaly’s exploits have not gone unnoticed, with one of the biggest clubs in Europe – FC Barcelona – setting sights on him.
The Catalan giants are renowned for foraying into markets in Europe and beyond for the most promising young players. Such an outlook has fetched Barcelona several first-team regulars, with Pedri, Gavi and Ansu Fati some of the prospects who have gone from strength to strength since joining the Blaugrana.
? @86_longo: Mamadou #Coulibaly has decided to stay at #ASMonaco! The player had been mentioned courted by #ACMilan. pic.twitter.com/Z1Za6FykB7
— Milan Posts (@MilanPosts) April 29, 2022
Coulibaly has thus emerged as a viable target for Barcelona, possibly to bolster the Barcelona B side before he eventually earns a promotion to the first team. And even though Barcelona’s midfield unit will be loaded following Franck Kessie’s impending arrival from AC Milan in a Bosman move, Sergio Busquets’s advancing years mean Coulibaly might have the chance to move into the senior squad quickly.
In addition to Barcelona, several other clubs across Europe, including Manchester City, have also been linked with the 18-year-old French wonderkid. But Coulibaly has handed a blow to his suitors, as he is ready to commit his long-term future to AS Monaco by turning a professional at Stade Louis II.
Barcelona will thus need to set sights on alternatives to bolster their youth ranks and the reserve side, with Kenan Yildiz possibly an option. It will be interesting to see who the Catalan giants sign in the summer transfer window.
