Monday, 15th October, 2012
Barcelona will not look to sign a new striker in the January transfer window, trusting instead in a young 17-year-old forward from the club’s B team.
The Blaugrana understand the importance of placing another striking option at the disposal of coach Tito Vilanova for the second half of the season, but the solution is seen as Jean Marie Dongou, according to Spanish daily El Mundo Deportivo.
relatedNewsStoryWhile swoops for the likes of Fernando Llorente and Radamel Falcao have been considered in the corridors of power at the Camp Nou, there is a feeling that a big name star may not take kindly to only being used as a ‘Plan B’ – and Dongou is viewed as the answer.
The Cameroonian starlet is impressing with Barcelona’s B team, operating as a pure number 9 striker.
This is in contrast to the first team, where Lionel Messi operates as a ‘false 9’.
And so Dongou looks perfectly placed to come into Vilanova’s first eleven when needed and offer a completely different and more traditional striking option for the Blaugrana.
Developed in the Barcelona youth ranks, the 17-year-old is well schooled in the ‘tiki-taka’ football which is the club’s trademark.
Dongou has been compared with former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o and even arrived at the club via the Cameroon international’s foundation at the age of just 13.
The striker has so far found the back of the net twice in the Segunda Division for Barcelona’s B team this season. He was on target on Saturday as Barcelona B saw off Sporting Gijon 3-0.
Latest Features: