Barcelona 16-year-old Labinot Kabashi dubbed ‘the new Andres Iniesta’ has gone from refugee to international footballer

Oct 05, 2016

LABINOT KASBASHI is the latest sensation to emerge at Barcelona.

At just 16, he has been called up to represent the newly-formed Kosovo national team.

GRAB - Barcelona 16-year-old Labinot Kabashi gets surprise call-up for senior Kosovo squad — Barcelona’s 16-year-old Labinot Kabashi surprised after receiving Kosovo call-up

Several players who played for other international sides have been given the opportunity to represent Kosovo.

And Kabashi is among to best talents available.

He has been likened to Andres Iniesta for his style and hunger for the game.

BERLIN, GERMANY - MARCH 11: People pulling suitcases arrive at the Central Registration Office for Asylum Seekers (Zentrale Aufnahmestelle fuer Fluechtlinge, or ZAA) of the State Office for Health and Social Services (Landesamt fuer Gesundheit und Soziales, or LAGeSo), which is the registration office for refugees and migrants arriving in Berlin who are seeking asylum in Germany, on March 11, 2015 in Berlin, Germany. Germany, which registered over 200,000 refugees in 2014, is expecting even more in 2015 and many cities and towns are reeling under the burden of having to accommodate them. The main countries of origin of the refugees include Syria, Serbia, Eritrea, Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo and Albania. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images) — Kosovans of Albanian descent were forced to flee during war with Serbia

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Kabashi was born in 2000 in what is now Kosovo, but fled the war-torn country with his family at the age of two to escape ethnic cleansing by Serbian forces of those with Albanian roots.

Until 2008, it was Serbian territory until Kosovo earned its independence.

In 2013, Kabashi moved to Barcelona.

epa05568632 Kosovo's Valon Berisha (C) gestures during the team's training session ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifying soccer match between Kosovo and Croatia, in Drenas, Kosovo, 03 October 2016. EPA/VALDRIN XHEMAJ — Kosovo players warm up for their huge World Cup qualifier against Croatia

epa05525963 Players of Kosovo line up before the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifying soccer match between Finland and Kosovo at the Veritas stadium in Turku, Finland, 05 September 2016. Kosovo played their first FIFA World Cup qualifier in Turku. EPA/MARKKU OJALA FINLAND OUT — Kosovo's starting line-up for the country's first-ever competitive international

Kosovo made its Fifa debut in a 2-0 victory over the Faroe Islands in June, before drawing 1-1 with Finland in their first competitive game.

Adnan Januzaj reportedly appealed to football’s governing body in an attempt to be granted permission to represent Kosovo.

And the country’s football federation is on the lookout for more talent.

Belgium's forward Adnan Januzaj controles the ball during the friendly football match between Belgium and Iceland, at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on November 12, 2014. AFP PHOTO / JOHN THYS (Photo credit should read JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images) — Adnan Januzaj in action with Belgium, but he wants to represent Kosovo

Kabashi is one and, after his call-up, he revealed his surprise, telling Barca TV: "At first I thought they were playing a joke on me.

“But I saw it wasn't and I'm very happy. I'm proud to be able to play for Kosovo."

Kabashi has lived in Spain since the age of two and has a Finnish mother — but will become ineligible to play for either if he appears in the upcoming qualifiers against Croatia and Ukraine.

Tags: Fifa Football

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