Barca Sign a 7 Year Old? You Must Be Joking

By Brian Lofrumento | 17th September 2009

Barca Sign a 7 Year Old? You Must Be Joking | read this item

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In one of football’s ironic twists, Barcelona have taken the current footballing debate to new levels as they have clinched the signing of Lyon’s seven year old prodigy Kais. While the entire footballing world is debating the legalities and moralities of signing players under the age of 18, most discussions have revolved around players aged 16 to 17. Barca, however, have thrown caution to the wind.

Lyon are surely not going to be pleased with the current European champions as they have snatched the youngster up after only two days of trials. Lyon officials have claimed that Kais is the best talent they have seen at the club in 30 years, saying that Karim Benzema is the only Lyon player that has matched the seven year old’s talents.

The pressure is now on UEFA to examine the situation if Lyon subsequently challenge Barca’s move. Following their witch hunt of English clubs last week, UEFA’s resolve is about to be tested with a club from Spain. Arsenal’s Eduardo was banned (and later the ban was rescinded) for diving, Chelsea were handed a transfer ban, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United were investigated, and it’s now time to see if UEFA can keep some consistency.

Is signing a 7 year old going a bit too far? Have your say below!

Footballers Convention » Blog Archive » Seven Year Olds, Dude says:

September 18, 2009 at 5:10 pm

[...] It’s being reported that Barcelona have agreed to sign a 7 year old Lyon starlet called Kais. Apparently, Benzema is the only player the French club have seen to possess equal talents at such a young age. I’m waiting for someone to tell us it’s a joke, but if it’s true it kind of puts the Kakuta incident in perspective. [...]

Reply to this Comment
Carrer de Corsega says:

September 18, 2009 at 5:57 am

Show me the signature of a 7 year old kid who can’t put alphabet together, then I will give you props on your Barca’s new “signing.”

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Carrer de Corsega says:

September 17, 2009 at 7:35 pm

This is terrible. This is just to smear Barcelona, the current Champions of Europe, and to make comparisons between them and your beloved and disgraced Premier League.

You know Fabregas left Barcelona because he couldn’t sign a professional contract in Spain. You cannot offer Professional contracts to U-18 players in Spain and Italy, unlike England…which explains the Machedas and Fabs and Meridas and etc.

So to say, “Barca ’sign’ a 7 year old” is confusing at best and lying at worst…The kid knows where he should go to further his career.

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Thomas O'Loughlin says:

September 17, 2009 at 6:42 pm

Any body with a good knowledge of contract law like myself will tell you a person under 18 does not have the capacity to enter into a contract so signing a 7 year old is a bit silly and it will be a long 11 years before he signs a professional contract.

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Brian Lofrumento says:

September 17, 2009 at 6:17 pm

Ali – I couldn’t agree with you more…that’s the exact problem with football’s current situation. I personally think it’s fine to sign these children as it furthers their career, helps their families survive, and only gives them better educations. My point, though, is that UEFA is now treading on thin water with regards to their inconsistencies.

To the other two Barca fans – if it’s the word “sign” that’s bothering you, then I’m not sure what else I could use. The fact of the matter is that Barca have taken a seven year old French kid away from his local area to play football…in England there are rules prohibiting that (as clubs can only sign players from a certain radius). I personally have no problem with Barca’s move, as I said to Ali above, but FIFA’s talk of banning under 18 player movement would definitely apply here.

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eduardo says:

September 17, 2009 at 5:49 pm

they didnt sign him u fool.. they convinced his parents to let the kid play for the club.. they didnt actually make the kid sign a contract unlike english club. my god at ur stupidity!!

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FCBarca says:

September 17, 2009 at 5:45 pm

Silly article…Barca cannot sign professional contracts to players under 18, let alone 8.

He’s enrolled in their youth academy and school.

Trying to draw comparisons to the poaching Premiership clubs do is pretty laughable…Get your facts in order

Reply to this Comment
Ali says:

September 17, 2009 at 5:28 pm

I am a Barca fan so I might be biased here but Lyon snatched the youngster from another club just a year ago I think, so I would ask what is constituted as snatching? Is that not the same?

Plus its not snatching when you have the player over for TRYOUTS and tell him he is welcome to join our youth academy, which is world class I might add. Any youngster would love to be taught from the best … just like going to the best school you can find to learn what you want to become.

The problem would be if we paid someone to have him join us or anything, he is doing it out of his own accord in order to provide himself with a better education.

P.S. I might sound a bit like Wegner, its because I did read that article he brought up this question in :D Its a tough call, where and what type of line do you actually draw if no money is involved.

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