Barcelona wonderkid at the centre of national team tug-of-war

Jesse Bisiwu is starting to attract attention beyond FC Barcelona. The recent signing has used pre-season to impress manager Hansi Flick.

The winger has featured against Udinese, FC Basel and Al Ahly, but it was against the Swiss side that he particularly stood out with two goals in just two minutes.

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That performance may have changed his status within Barcelona's first-team plans and put even more attention on the 18-year-old, whom the club strongly backed this summer, paying €8.5 million to sign him.

Ghana want Bisiwu

Bisiwu's performances have not gone unnoticed, and now Ghana have entered the race, hoping to get ahead of Belgium and convince the player to represent the Black Stars.

According to SPORT, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has been in contact with the player's representatives for months and is considering calling him up to the senior national team in the near future.

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Bisiwu has represented Belgium at youth level, making 25 appearances across the Under-15, Under-16, Under-17, Under-18 and Under-19 teams, but he can still choose Ghana because of his family roots.

Making an early impression. (Photo courtesy: FC Barcelona official website)

That possibility has prompted the African federation to make its move before his development at Barcelona definitively determines his international future.

The GFA believes Bisiwu can become an important player for the Black Stars and is trying to convince him to make the jump directly to the senior team.

Their objective is to have him available for the road to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, a competition in which Ghana wants to return to the forefront.

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Belgium, meanwhile, are aware of Ghana's interest and continue to monitor the situation, although they have made no official approach so far.

For Bisiwu, the decision is not immediate, but his development in Barcelona could accelerate events.

Barça, Bisiwu's biggest showcase

Ghana want Bisiwu to play for them. (Photo courtesy: FC Barcelona official website)

Barça have become his main showcase, and every minute with the first team increases the significance of his international choice.

Ghana's interest comes precisely as the young winger begins to push for a bigger role in Flick's plans. After struggling to make much of an impact in his first friendly against Udinese, the winger exploded against Basel.

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He received a pass between the lines from Dani Olmo, controlled the ball, turned and placed it into the top corner with a superb strike. Moments later, he appeared again to convert an assist from Lamine Yamal and complete his brace.

Two goals in two minutes that underlined Barcelona's decision to sign him and sparked debate over the role he could have this season.

While the federations make their moves, Bisiwu's focus has to remain on convincing Flick. The German coach must decide whether the young winger will have a regular presence with the first team or alternate between the senior squad and the reserves.

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