At just ten-years-old, WSA Winnipeg academy member Massimo Pansini has caught the attention of one of the world’s largest football clubs.
FC Barcelona is inviting the youngster to train at their academy in Spain after impressing at a camp in Saskatoon.
Pansini is one of only two players to earn the honour.
“To put it simply Massimo lives for this game,” said WSA Winnipeg head coach Eduardo Badescu. “Since the age of six he has not missed a WSA camp on top of his club soccer while also coming to our PDL practises and games.”
Pansini’s talent is well known among the World Soccer Academy as a standout at his own age while enjoying the experience of working with the PDL team full of the best players in Winnipeg.
“He not only loves to watch our best players, but to learn from them and more importantly kick the ball around with them,” Badescu said. “He’s probably taught them a thing or two!”
Panisini will leave for Barcelona with his father in September and train at the same facilities used by Lionel Messi, Neymar and a long list of world class players.
“And they think he may have the talent to stay there,” Badescu said. “He’s the kind of player they look for with his technique, skills and more importantly his attitude.”
WSA Winnipeg wishes Massimo the best of luck as he works to achieve his dream of one day being a professional footballer.