Barcelona teenage target suffers serious knee injury, will not return before March 2025

Barcelona target Amara Diouf has been hit with a significant setback, as reported by SPORT. 

The talented 16-year-old Senegalese forward has sustained a severe knee injury that required surgery, ruling him out for several months. 

Diouf, who is considered one of Africa’s most promising young players, will have to endure a long recovery period following the operation.

The outlet mentions that Diouf is part of the renowned Generation Foot academy in Senegal, an academy that has produced many top players who have gone on to play in Europe. 

Both Barcelona and other major European clubs have been closely monitoring his progress for some time. However, his recent injury will delay his development and any potential transfer moves. 

What happened to Diouf?

The youngster was playing for the academy despite having ligament damage in his knee, and the injury went unnoticed until a routine medical examination revealed the seriousness of the situation. 

This revelation sparked outrage from his family, with his father accusing the academy of negligence. According to his father, Diouf was given injections to reduce swelling in his knee so that he could continue playing, an act he described as “inhumane.”

Following the discovery of the injury, Diouf briefly removed all his posts from his Instagram account, although he has since made them visible again. 

His return to football is not expected before February or March 2025, leaving many clubs anxiously waiting to see how he recovers and returns to form.

Although Barcelona and other clubs remain interested in Diouf, it is important to note that his rights are currently owned by French club Metz. 

Any club wishing to sign the young attacker, who has already made his debut for the Senegal national team, will need to negotiate with Metz. 

Diouf, however, cannot officially move to Europe until he turns 18 on 7 June 2026, meaning any potential transfer is still a few years away.