A FRESH TAKE ON FOOTBALL

Chris Dunlavy

ADAMA Traore was just eight when he was scouted by Barcelona and invited to attend a trial at La Masia.
He didn’t need directions. Born in the suburb of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, the young winger lived less than a mile from Camp Nou.
By nine, he was a classmate of Hector Bellerin, a pupil of Xavi and Andres Iniesta. On YouTube, a 20-minute video shows Traore zipping around as the legendary duo dole out a passing masterclass.
Back then, he was a short, skinny right-back. Then, almost overnight, he blossomed into a hulking, musclebound wi...