Discovered as a promising young defender playing on local pitches, Gariba first honed his skills with Zinaps FC. His impressive performances caught the eye of Villarreal CF Africa, where he further developed his game.
His breakthrough to Europe came when he earned a place at the prestigious Marcet Soccer Academy. Once he arrived in Spain, Barcelona’s scouts tracked Hafiz’s progress closely for months.
Captivated by the central defender’s technical ability and composure on the ball, Barcelona came knocking. He was offered a three-year deal to join the Juvenil B U-18 team at La Masia.
“The first time I heard of Barcelona’s interest was at Marcet Academy. We had a training and then they told me that I’m going to Barcelona. I was so happy and my teammates were so happy for me as well. I called my family and they were so glad to hear the news,” Gariba told Flashscore in an exclusive interview.
For the Ghanaian defender, joining Barcelona fulfilled a lifelong dream, having grown up as a devoted supporter of the club.
“When I was young I used to wear Barcelona jerseys and I told people around me one day I will play for Barcelona,” he said.
Arriving in Barcelona marked a milestone for Gariba as he had joined one of Europe’s elite youth systems. Yet, adapting to life and football in Catalonia presented challenges of its own.
“In Barcelona there’s a big difference. The way we train and the way we play our matches, our tactics, is very different from Africa. It’s not easy but I always work hard in training and give my best.”
His determination and commitment caught the eye of coaches, and Gariba began settling into his role as a defender with a technical edge.
Last season with Barcelona’s youth sides, Gariba impressed with his calmness on the ball, strength in the tackle, and improving game intelligence. He made over 20 appearances for the Juvenil A team, helping them win the National Youth League while forging a reputation as one of the most reliable central defenders in the academy.
While he didn’t make a debut for the senior team yet, his performances did not go unnoticed by technical staff and scouts. Gariba has set his sights on making the first team this season.
“I think this season. When I return, I am going to fight. I am going to fight so I get recognised and promoted to the senior team.”
Gariba’s journey has been inspired by some of Barcelona’s current and emerging stars as he dreams of one day playing alongside Pau Cubarsi.
“It’s Pau Cubarsi. I see him as my senior and I always learn from him because he is very intelligent. I’ve met him and he is such a humble guy. Lamine Yamal is also a really good player. They’re young players who are playing at the highest level and I am looking forward to following their footsteps.”
“I look forward to one day playing with the Barcelona senior team. My dream is to play alongside Pau Cubarsi. I think he is one of the best defenders in the world,” he added.
The 18-year-old is aware of the levels he needs to reach to realise his dream and admits he is still developing and adapting to Barcelona’s culture of building from the back.
“As a defender in Barcelona, you need to know how to be comfortable on the ball. My coach at youth level helped me with my confidence on the ball. Whenever, the goalkeeper gets the ball as a defender I have to be ready to receive a pass.”
Last season, the senior team came close to the treble, only missing out on the Champions League. Gariba is optimistic that the Blaugrana side can win Europe’s elite competition.
“Last season was so good. Everyone was talking about Barcelona. We came close to the Champions League and I think this year we should take it. I am looking forward to being part of this success as well.”
Although Gariba is yet to personally meet head coach Hansi Flick, his admiration is clear.
“I haven’t met him yet but I am looking forward to meeting him one day. He’s a good coach and I like how he manages the players. I can’t wait to learn from him one day.”
In just over three years, Gariba has transformed from a young fan in Ghana, proudly wearing Barcelona jerseys and watching their matches on TV, into a key player for their youth team.
His remarkable progress has brought him ever closer to realising his dream of joining Barcelona’s first team. Now part of the youth setup, he is steadily advancing towards that goal, determined to keep knocking on coach Flick’s door until it opens.
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