Football Rumors: Barcelona To Loan Out First-Ever American Striker

A promising Barcelona striker could get an opportunity to prove himself as an on-loan player in another club.

Konrad De La Fuente is one of Barcelona Academy graduates who managed to make it to Barcelona’s senior team.

His current deal with the Catalans ends in 2022, and the club has an option to extend it for another two years.

However, it seems like the striker would have to spend the 2021-22 season out on loan, Spanish outlet Marca reported.

The 19-year-old has struggled to secure a spot in Ronaldo Koeman’s squad and he is “most likely” to join another Spanish top-flight club or head to England, Germany or France, the report added.

This past season, De La Fuente was featured in two UEFA Champions League matches, but it was during the pre-season friendlies when he finally made his mark on the team.

In September of last year, the former La Masia standout became the first American to ever play for Barcelona's first team, coming in as a substitute in the friendly against Gimnastic.

It was during that “important moment” when De La Fuente first revealed his desire to “stay” at Barcelona.

"I think it was a really important moment for me and my family because it has always been my goal to stay at Barca and become successful," De La Fuente told Barca TV+ after the game. "Hopefully I will make my dream come true."

It didn’t take long for Koeman to notice De La Fuente’s potential as a player. After the friendly against Gimnastic, the Miami native picked up where he left off and put on another impressive showing against Girona.

"If I had to single out one of the youngsters [who played against Girona], I would say Konrad [De La Fuente],” Koeman said after the game. “I'm very happy with him.”

De La Fuente acknowledged that he was moved by the opportunity to play with some of “the best players in the world.”

"I am very happy to have this opportunity to play in the first team," the teenager admitted. "It has been my goal and dream since I was a child and I am happy to make it come true. I am very grateful for the opportunity I have been given."

"Being here, in the first team, with the best players in the world, makes you much better as a player and I'm taking advantage of it to learn from them,” he continued.