Just like Lee, Ayoub Abou is a part of the 1998 generation at La Masia, one packed with many talented, probable future first-team players. Four of these players are very special: Carles Perez, Lee Seung-Woo, Ayoub Abou, and Carles Aleña. The triumvirate of Lee-Ayoub-Aleña is comparable to Messi-Xavi-Iniesta. The difference between the two is that we haven’t seen the former play together as much as we should have, because Ayoub has always played with kids one to two years older than him.

Ayoub is a prototypical La Masia midfielder with immense technique, both in terms of passing and dribbling. On top of that, his goalscoring and physical aspects are also worth noticing. Ayoub looks a bit small, but is great at holding opponents off the ball in possession. Filled with flair and natural ability, his abilities shine whenever he is on the ball.

When Ayoub was 9, his parents decided to move to Barcelona to live with Latif, his big brother who had found a job in Barcelona. Ayoub’s brother was eventually responsible for his move to Barça. Although Ayoub was never a part of a football team before, his brother was confident that Ayoub had the abilities to be able to play at La Masia.

Latif signed Ayoub up at FCB Escola, Barça’s football pre-school, from where a few chosen kids enter a La Masia team. Josep Gombau, one of the La Masia leaders in 2007, concluded right away that Ayoub was too good for Escola and arranged for his boss Alberto Benaiges, head of youth football, to see the youngster in action. Benaiges was stunned by his dominant style of play compared to the other kids in his age group, and decided that Ayoub should join the Benjamin A (U-11) team at La Masia. Ayoub should’ve joined the U-10s, Benjamin C, but Benaiges decided that Ayoub was good enough to play with the older kids.

A mix of Zidane and Riquelme

Even though his two favorite players are Xavi and Iniesta, Ayoub’s playing style is a lot more similar to Zinedine Zidane and former Barça player, Juan Roman Riquelme: A mix of Zidane’s excellent physique, ball control, and skills combined with Riquelme’s playmaking abilities and versatility in midfield. This is not to say that he is as talented as the two, but Ayoub’s style of play is comparable to those two greats.

The thing that Ayoub takes most advantage of is his versatility; he can do it all as a midfielder. Together with Aleña, he is arguably the most all-rounded midfielder we’ve seen of the recent generations at La Masia. The prototypical La Masia midfielder is a player with less-dominant physical ability, combined with brilliant technique and passing skills. Ayoub has the latter two, but, in addition, is also strong, fast, and can easily use both feet. Ayoub is, as they would say in Spain, a todocampista  —  a midfielder for all positions.

He showed that in a league game against Sant Andreu in 2012 where he played in four different positions during the game. He started as a left-winger, moved to the regista spot in midfield (a 6), then as the trequartista (a 10), and finally finishing as the false 9.

A star from the beginning

Ever since his arrival, Ayoub has been dominant, despite playing against players older than him. When he should’ve played with the Infantil As (U-15), he played with the Cadet Bs and As (U-16 and U-17) instead, but played as if the match was right up his alley.

At the end the 2009-2010 season, Ayoub shined in Barça’s victory in the prestigious Torneo Alevin de Estepona, especially in the final against Real Madrid. After that tournament, the people responsible for youth football, Guillermo Amor and Albert Puig, decided that the following season Ayoub would jump from his natural bracket of Alevin A (U-13) to Infantil A (U-15) without playing a single official game with the Infantil B (U-14). In that season, even though he was the youngest player on the team, he was designated best player in the league that was won by Infantil A.

Last season, he played with Juvenil B (U-18), with players aged 16 and 17, even though Ayoub was just 15. At the end of the season, there were four players from the 1998 age group: Ayoub, Lee Seung Woo, Carles Aleña, and Carles Perez. While Lee was still suspended by FIFA, Aleña, Ayoub and Perez – all three a year younger than their teammates and opponents – both ended up in the starting lineup towards the end of the season, showing the talent they possess.

In May 2014, I was in Barcelona to watch the first team play against Atletico Madrid. The day after, I went to the club’s training ground to watch the final league game of the season for Juvenil B, against Cornella who were beaten 6–0 in a game where Juvenil B had already secured the league title. Aleña and Perez started the game, with the latter scoring two goals, while Ayoub made his entrance in the second half, showing exactly what is expected of him: Good distribution with the ball, great technical moves, and a very calm game with no mistakes.

Unlike Perez and Aleña who stayed with Juvenil B, Ayoub was promoted to Juvenil A (U-19). This season, he hasn’t gotten as much playing time as he would have liked, he was more of a rotation player. There are reasons for this: This season, with the arrival of Amir Natkho, Juvenil A have had four great players for two midfield spots: Amir Natkho, Lionel Enguene, Alex Corredera, and Ayoub. With the other three being older than Ayoub, they needed the minutes more because they are a few steps away from senior football, while Ayoub has, most likely, another season at Juvenil A. The second reason for Ayoub's diminished playing time this season is that he was temporarily barred from playing official games for the club during fall, because the Spanish FA had to investigate more youth transfers at Barça. It later turned out that there were no problems, and Ayoub could play again.

Ayoub’s talent is undeniable. With his abilities, there is no doubt that he can become a first team player at Barcelona. But he has to continue his development first. Defensively, he has some stuff to learn as well. He will most likely form the midfield at Juvenil A next season with Carles Aleña, a partnership that has the potential to become absolutely brilliant. This is true not only next season, but hopefully also at Barça B in a couple of years.