A 13-year-old boy is knocking on the door of Barça's first team.

BarcelonaMohamed Dabone will turn 14 on October 21, but Barça has already started the process with the CSD (Spanish National Sports Council) to allow him to play with the first team, which debuts this Wednesday in the Catalan National League ACB in Tarragona. The Blaugrana team will play against MoraBanc Andorra.

"He's a boyfriend who's helping us, who has a lot of excitement, because at his age it's something different, but we have to stay calm. He's not even starting his career yet. He still has a long way to go and is very green. He has a good attitude and it's clear he's a different player. Don't expect Dabone to have to solve his natural problems and we'll see how he develops. He's a player who's doing very well, but he's very young," says Joan Peñarroya, who also values the work of Sayon Keita and Nikola Kusturica.

Josep Cubells, the director in charge of the basketball team, has confirmed that Dabone will be part of the first team this season. The Burkina Faso native, who is in his third year at La Masia, has become Barça's great hope for the future, and they are trying to protect him as much as possible. The Blaugrana club is aware of his decisive impact and sees him ready to make his debut with the first team, but they want to distance him from the expectations he generates. The goal is for him to become the best player possible in a few years.

Dabone, who has completed preseason training with the first team, is ready to break a handful of records for early arrivals, but Barça is facing a season with competitive urgency. "We've had two years without success and we have to win titles. We're starting now with the Catalan League, but we want to reach all the finals. This is a clear goal. We know we're under a lot of pressure," acknowledges Joan Carles Navarro, general manager of the section.

Dabone made his debut with Barça in a friendly last week, in which the Blaugrana team played Bàsquet Girona in Platja d'Aro (77-88). If he debuts in the Endesa League before May, he will surpass the competition's record for earliest appearances. The current record is held by Bassala Bagayoko, who debuted at 14 years and 7 months.

"He's the best player in the world at his age," say the experts. Some scouts of the NBA went to see him in the final of the Barça children's Minicopa Endesa, where for the second consecutive year he was decisive. Pau Gasol, Mario Hezonja and Leandro Bolmaro are the former Barça players who in their day were chosen in a higher position of the draft of the NBA, and the expectation Dabone generates is similar to that aroused by Victor Wembanyama, who currently plays for the San Antonio Spurs.

"A very special year"

Barça announced its five signings for the 2025-26 season on Tuesday: Myles Cale, Juani Marcos, Toko Shengelia, Will Clyburn, and Miles Norris. "We've made an even stronger commitment so that the team, with a larger roster, can compete strongly in all competitions. I think we've taken a step forward. We're in a very special year. We'll celebrate the centenary of Barça basketball," said Cubells.

"I'm very happy with the work that's been done. We've built a team based on the needs we saw compared to last season. The signings also include players we've recovered from injuries and young players from the youth academy, who will do very well in such a long and demanding season. We've built a team that can fight for everything."