Barcelona spying on France trio of young stars during clash with Spain

FC Barcelona are very interested in what happens on Tuesday night at the Stade de France, where France take on Spain in an international friendly. Not because the result is particularly relevant, not even because Barcelona have five players who could be involved — Umtiti for France, Busquets, Iniesta, Pique and Alba for Spain — but because there are three players who might feature for France that Barcelona are following very closely. 

Kylian Mbappe (Monaco 18 years), Corentin Tolisso (Lyon, 22) and Thomas Lemar (Monaco 21) are three of the biggest sensations in French football. Robert Fernandez as Barcelona’s sporting director will be there to take note of them from the presidential box.

IN FASHION

Few doubt Mbappe’s brilliance, the player most in fashion in European football. After making his debut last Saturday against Luxembourg (he played his first 12 minutes as an international at the top level), Mbappe will have a new opportunity to show off his game here. In France the most daring are already putting him at the heights of Messi and Ronaldo (!) although the most frequent comparison is to former Monaco and Barcelona star Thierry Henry, for his goalscoring ability and versatility in attack. In recent weeks, and coinciding with the Champions League KO of Manchester City, he has shot into the limelight. Monaco are rumoured not to want to sell him for less than 100 million euros. Real Madrid, Manchester United and Barcelona are extremely interested in his signature. Thomas Lemar, another Monaco product, is a left footed 21 year old winger, also capable of playing inside, capable of making it to the byline to cause danger and he also has an eye for goal. Atletico Madrid offered 26 million for him last summer but there was no agreement between the clubs and Lemar stayed at Monaco. This season he has captured the interest of Chelsea and Liverpool, and in France they think he will end up being the left interior in the national team, to the detriment of Dmitri Payet. 

TOLISSO, JUVE OBJECTIVE

Meanwhile Tolisso is a total midfielder, notably versatile, after starting at Lyon as a right-back and ending up being a playmaker. Of Togolese origin although born in France, Tolisso has 11 goals this season although is yet to make his debut for the French side. He will have that pleasure tonight under Didier Deschamps. Last summer it seemed set he would sign for Napoli, but the player decided not go go. Now it is Juventus who are most interested in signing him. He would set them back 30 million euros. Barcelona know the details of the operation and will rival them for Tolisso.