Jesse Bisiwu arrived at FC Barcelona in the summer with sporting director Deco and head of scouting Joao Amaral seeing the teenager as a personal bet for the future.
The 18-year-old Belgian winger joined from Club Brugge for a fee of around €8.5 million plus add-ons, and is part of the first-team squad, although for now he is playing with the reserve side.
Bisiwu took part in the pre-season with the first team and continues to train regularly with the senior squad under Hansi Flick, although his two official appearances this season have come with Barça Atletic.
This experience has allowed him to appreciate some of the differences between the football he knew in Belgium and the game practised in Barcelona.
In an interview with Starsporttv (h/t SPORT ), Bisiwu highlighted the talent he has found at Barça Atletic, where he has been getting more playing time.
"There is a lot of talent,"he explained. "Physically, perhaps it is a little less intense than in Belgium, where you run more,"he said of his experience with Juliano Belletti's side.
Bisiwu arrived from Club Brugge. (Photo courtesy: FC Barcelona official website)
"But in Barcelona, everything revolves around playing with the ball. It is wonderful to experience."
The young footballer knew that he would have to be patient to establish himself in the first team.
"I am patient and I knew that this decision was not going to be easy,"he admitted.
Bisiwu explained that before choosing the Catalan club, he spoke with Hansi Flick, who presented him with a specific development plan.
"I spoke with the coach and he laid out a clear plan for me. I believe in it too,"he said.
Bisiwu's decision also involved a clear alternative. Club Brugge, where he had developed and had yet to make his first-team debut, had also put an offer to him.
Bisiwu has made his debut for Barça Atletic. (Picture credit: x/@FCBarcelona)
"It was not an easy decision because Club Brugge had also made a good offer,"he admitted.
Ultimately, Bisiwu chose Barcelona because he believed it offered the best environment in which to develop his potential.
"I want to fulfil my full potential and Barcelona seemed like the best school,"he said.
For now, he regularly trains with the first team while continuing to play for Barça Atletic.
The presence of players such as Gordon, Adeyemi and Lamine Yamal limits his opportunities to play with the senior side, although he already showed glimpses of his ability during pre-season.
