Zak Gilsenan M Blackburn b.2003
'Nine-year-old Irish prodigy signs for Barcelona academy': http://www.thescore.ie/nine-year-old...aign=from_page
Quote:
ZAK GILSENAN. REMEMBER the name.
The nine-year-old from Castleknock in Dublin has signed for FC Barcelona after scoring seven goals in a trial game for the Catalan giants.
The Sun reports that Zak saw off 400 other young hopefuls to seal a place at the FCBEscola football academy, the same school that educated the likes of Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Lionel Messi.
'Zak of the net for young Irish Messi': http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...ish-Messi.html
Quote:
He will now come face-to-face with Ireland’s Galactico — Mayo lad John Joe Patrick Finn. In May we revealed how the youngster, whose dad is from Ballyhaunis, signed for the other Spanish giants, Real Madrid.
Mining company worker Stephen said: “I know Zak is young to be doing this but kids are like a sponge at this age.
“People say we are mad but in Barcelona he will be educated in the best footballing techniques.
“All we can do is go and see how it develops. We know it’s ruthless over there. We don’t want him turned into a machine, we just want him to enjoy it. It’s his dream to play for Ireland.”