The Barcelona media was upset on Monday, as PSG appears set to sign Aboubacar Maiga, who is just 16 years old. Presented as the "Malian Messi," Maiga had been in very advanced talks with Barcelona.

FC Barcelona's leadership was not pleased to see the European champions come and sign Dro Fernandez last January -- a product of La Masia.

Now, it is not a player developed in Catalonia that Paris Saint-Germain wants to lure away from Barcelona, but it might as well be. For quite some time, Joan Laporta's club had been making eyes at Aboubacar Maiga, a Malian attacking midfielder who will turn 17 in June.

Contacts had been established with the player's representatives, who shines with Mali's youth national teams and has even been nicknamed the "Malian Messi" after largely contributing to his country's qualification for the U-17 World Cup. But on Monday, Spanish outlet Sport, close to Barcelona, reports that Maiga will now likely sign with PSG.

Journalist Tomas Andreu of the well-respected sports outlet explains that Barcelona's leadership, which had already been in discussions with the young Malian's representatives, was surprised to see him appear at Paris Saint-Germain -- where he is apparently on trial this week.

While the young player developed at Africa Foot Academy, a structure based near Bamako, had already undergone trials at Barcelona, with a pre-contract even having been discussed, he ultimately decided to set his sights on the European champions. A change that shocked Barcelona's leadership, who note that PSG is now attempting to recruit the best young players from across the globe. In the case of Aboubacar Maiga, however, the blow is particularly harsh.

"Our sources confirm that the Malian traveled with PSG to participate this weekend in the Olympia Future Cup tournament, played at Ajax's facilities. Those same Paris-based sources confirmed that it was an evaluation trial to assess Maiga's true level. After this tournament, PSG's coaches will decide on the midfielder's future. If he has convinced Paris, PSG will do everything to secure the player's arrival when he turns 18," the Barcelona-based journalist wrote.

In Catalonia, this competition with the French club is expected to intensify in the coming seasons, with Paris now having the means to match its ambitions in youth recruitment.

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