Leeds United striker Mateo Joseph has been named as one of 10 players Barcelona must scout at the upcoming U20s World Cup.
That is according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, who have labelled him as one of the ‘most dangerous emerging’ strikers taking part at the tournament.
Joseph – who was also eligible to represent Spain due to being born there – has been named in the England squad for the tournament in Argentina, where he will be playing alongside Leeds teammate Darko Gyabi.
The talented duo only helped Leeds’ U21s earn promotion back to Premier League Two Division One on Monday night against Nottingham Forest, before then jetting off to South America 24 hours later.
England get their campaign underway on Monday night against Tunisia, with Iraq and Uruguay the two other sides in the Young Lions’ group.
Joseph named as player Barcelona should scout
Joseph has enjoyed a superb first full season as a Leeds player in 2022/23, netting 16 times in 21 matches to finish as the division’s top goal scorer, which as a result saw him nominated for the player of the season award.
The 19-year-old was also handed six first team appearances for Leeds across the course of the campaign, including a first start in an EFL Cup tie at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Prior to his move to Leeds, Joseph actually spent a number of years playing in Barcelona, but for their cross city rivals Espanyol.
On his talent, Mundo Deportivo wrote: “Born in Santander and with a past in the Espanyol academy, the young Leeds United striker (19 years old) has made his first appearances with the English first team this season and is emerging as one of the most dangerous of the ‘pross’.
“With the Leeds subsidiary he has been decisive, with 15 goals in 18 games, and in the blue and white youth system he scored four goals in a youth derby against Barça.”
Joseph has been capped on three occasions already by England U20s in the lead up to the tournament, where he has scored two goals and provided one assist – all of which came in a 4-2 win over USA.
The young striker is clearly a player Leeds think highly of, and at this stage of his career his development would certainly be better suited to remaining in West Yorkshire, rather than moving to a powerhouse like Barca.