Ronald Koeman Names New Important Player For Barcelona Aside From Lionel Messi

A teenage substitute has found himself a spot in Barcelona’s first team.

In just his third senior game this season, Ilaix Moriba already made it known that he could be a key figure in Ronald Koeman’s squad.

The 18-year-old notched his first senior goal on Saturday to seal a 2-0 win over Osasuna. After the game, Koeman praised Moriba’s contribution and hinted at the possibility that the youngster will be called up again in the next games.

“Every time he comes into the team he gives the team something extra, because of his personality, his energy, most of all he’s good with the ball, and physically he’s a strong boy. He’s gaining ground and showing he can be more with the first team,” Koeman said of Moriba in his post-match conference.

“It is clear that we are proud to let young people from grassroots football in,” he added. “We do it because they deserve it, there are people like Pedri, Ilaix [Moriba], Riqui [Puig], [Ronald] Araujo, [Oscar] Mingueza. They are the future of the club.”

Moriba’s 83rd-minute goal was the final nail in the coffin in the match at El Sadar. Unsurprisingly, it was the Barcelona captain Lionel Messi who orchestrated the play that saw Moriba hitting the back of the net.

Recounting the monumental moment, Moriba admitted that it happened so fast and the next thing he saw was the ball going in.

“Leo [Messi] gave me a good pass and I don’t know how I cut and shot with the left, and thank God it went in,” the attacking midfielder recalled. “I will never forget this and I will take it to my grave. There’s competition for places but it doesn’t matter if you are young or not. If you play well you’re in the team.”

Like Ansu Fati, Pedri and Francisco Trincao, Moriba is also taking pointers from Messi.

“The older players help us, give us advice, Leo tells me to get in the area as often as I can and get in positions to shoot,” he revealed. “He’s like a brother to me.”

Barcelona is still one win and three points behind La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid. For Moriba, the Spanish top-flight is far from over and the Catalans will never back down.

On Wednesday, Barca will face Paris Saint-Germain in a crucial leg two of the UEFA Champions League.

According to the La Masia graduate, Barcelona will definitely bring the same intensity against the Ligue 1 champions.

“We never, ever thought the league [La Liga] was over,” Moriba pointed out. “We know it will be difficult. The DNA of this club is to keep going, never give up and the same on Wednesday [against PSG]. I’ve learned a lot here in La Masia and also from my father and my mother, all my family has supported me. Hopefully, our opponents start to drop points.”