Ex-Barcelona player once hailed as 'next Lionel Messi' could be axed by latest club as career hits new low

A former Barcelona player once hailed as the ‘next Lionel Messi’ is on the cusp of leaving Dutch outfit Fortuna Sittard.

Alen Halilovic signed for Barcelona at 17, with many believing the Croatian midfield was such a promising prospect that he would be fast-tracked into the first team.

However, at the time the Catalan side’s midfield featured Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Xavi, so naturally, the youngsters' opportunities were limited.

He never made the grade at Barcelona, making just one competitive appearance before being loaned to Sporting Gijon in 2015 and signing for Hamburg permanently the following year.

He is now playing at Fortuna, his 12th club, but could be forced out as the Dutch side look to bring in Mohamed Ihattaren.

According to Dutch publication VI, Fortuna only want to pursue their interest in Ihattaren if Halilovic departs.

Halilovic is said to be an option for MLS sides, and open to a departure. The publication bluntly described the player to be: “A significant drain on the budget and [he] hasn't delivered on his performance.

“Once Halilovic departs, Fortuna can pursue Ihattaren.”

Last week Croatian outlet tportal said that FK and Trabzonspor were also interested in Halilovic, who’s now 29.

Reflecting on his career in a 2024 interview with the Athletic, Halilovic said: “The first two years were perfect at Barca but I expected I would get a chance at the first team in the third. Then I realised Luis Enrique did not see me there.

Alen Halilovic did not live up to expectations (Credit:Getty)

"I was supposed to stay one more year as I was doing really well. I expected to go to Euros with the national team but didn’t get selected and Barca decided I had to go out on loan again, so I was a little frustrated with everything.

"I did not want to go out again, so I said 'F*** it, I go from here'.

"When you are young, you think you don’t have time and I had to be ahead of (Andres) Iniesta and Xavi (at Barca). Looking now, I just needed to be patient. Train and wait. It will come."