Barca prodigy Bojan set for Spain call-up

[Pat Murphy]

Barca prodigy Bojan set for Spain call-up

MADRID, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Barcelona's talented youngster Bojan Krkic is likely to be called up to Spain's squad for next week's friendly against France in order to prevent him from being poached by Serbia, said national coach Luis Aragones.

'He's only 17, but he has made extraordinary progress. He's got quality, an eye for goal and could be a great player,' Aragones told sports daily AS on Wednesday.

'Yes, we might call him up now. My idea that he comes now to stop him going to another national team.

'He's an extraordinary lad and we've been nuturing him through all the youth categories in the national set-up.'

Known to Barcelona fans simply as 'Bojan', Krkic's father is Serbian but he was born in Spain in Linyola in the province of Lleida. The forward has said he wanted to play for Spain.

Bojan made a name for himself by notching up over 800 goals during his time in the Barcelona youth team set-up and scored on his debut for the first team in an exhibition match against Egyptian side Al-Ahly last April.

He was one of the most eye-catching players in last year's Under-17 World Cup in South Korea and was instrumental in helping Spain get to the final.

However, he received a red card in the dying seconds of the semi-final against Ghana and missed the final against Nigeria, which Spain lost on penalties.

He made his Primera Liga debut against Osasuna this season and became the youngest player to score for the club in the league when he found the net in the 3-1 win over Villarreal in October.

If he plays against France he will become the youngest player to be capped by Spain, beating the previous record set by Athletic Bilbao's Angel Zubieta in 1936.

Zubieta won the first of his two caps at the age of 17 years and nine months while Bojan will be three months younger.

Soccernet.com

ESPNsoccernet - Europe - Barca prodigy Bojan set for Spain call-up


So it looks like Bojan is set to possibly be the youngest player to ever debut for Spain.

But more importantly does he deserve to get called up over many more experienced players?

[Podolski]

Spain should call him up just so make sure he tied to the spanish national team, he will undoubtedly be a part of it in the future if he does

[jec1]

He was born in spain, so he deserves to play for them.

Anyone hear of a young 17 year-old spainard named Borja Tomas? he scored 5 goals against porugals U 16 squad.