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Many boys ask their parents for a trip to Barcelona as a bar mitzvah gift, including a visit to the soccer shrine Camp Nou and, of course, watching a match of one of the most popular teams among Israelis. Orian Goren also took this journey, but in his case, it was an upgraded gift—he flew there to wear Barcelona's uniform and actually play for a European giant.
Today, at the age of 15 and a half, he is considered the new wonder kid of Israeli soccer—someone most of you haven’t heard of yet—but already a revelation at La Masia, one of the world’s most prestigious academies, which has produced legends like Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez.
"The most intelligent player in Barcelona's youth department"
If you don’t believe it, check out quotes from a major Spanish media outlet, the esteemed newspaper Sport, where Orian was described as "the most intelligent player in Barcelona’s youth department." Journalist Jaume Martet elaborated: "He is a technical prodigy, surrounded by an aura that makes him a special player on the field. Beyond being a gifted player, it must be noted that his physical development and cognitive abilities are extraordinary. He has an explosive combination of intelligence and talent, and many in the department believe he is a worthy successor to the greatest midfielders to emerge from Barcelona’s youth system in history."
Martet further described: "The coaches greatly value his effort, as unlike other creative players, he does not stop working on both sides of the field. He is very humble and aware of the things he needs to improve—heading, his left foot and ball retention."
From Maccabi Petah Tikva to Barcelona
It won’t surprise you that Orian comes from Maccabi Petah Tikva, which boasts one of the best youth departments in Israel and has produced notables such as Leeds star winger Manor Solomon. From the very start, the boy caught the attention of Ophir Luzon, the department's professional director. Scouts and agents quickly began showing interest. What is remarkable is that even at Barcelona’s academy, Orian is identified as a player with the potential to reach the club’s senior team.
Orian is an extremely versatile attacking midfielder who typically plays as a number 10 but can also function as a box-to-box midfielder. The initial initiative to try out for Barcelona came from his father, Yarom, and it took only two days for the club’s professionals to decide they wanted Orian on board. Since he had been playing at Maccabi Petah Tikva since the age of 8, the Israeli club received compensation for his development and hopes to see him progress and bring pride to the team.
A family move to Spain
Orian’s mother, Dafna, is an economist who transitioned into teaching mathematics, while his father is an industrial designer and owns an industrial design company. After the COVID pandemic, the couple wanted to expand their business and decided to move to Spain. Yarom explained: "We had several places in Europe we were considering, but we chose Barcelona. Meanwhile, I looked for a team for Orian. We received offers from several clubs. Today, it’s prohibited to transfer minors between countries, so we ensured all housing arrangements were settled. He was accepted to Barcelona after a week of trials and impressed them greatly. They first saw him in a Maccabi Petah Tikva tournament, were very enthusiastic, and within a week, we finalized everything."
Naturally, Israeli soccer is also closely following Orian’s development. He plays for legendary center-back Arik Benado’s under-17 national team, alongside older players, and was recently called up for the European Championship qualifiers set to begin this March.
Orian is thrilled in Barcelona, working hard and experiencing what every child dreams of. That’s not to say there aren’t challenges, but he believes they only make him stronger, and he remains modest. "Overall, the integration has been good, but there were many challenges. First of all, the entire family had to adjust to moving to a new country, a new home, new schools, etc. We were building everything from scratch," he shared.
"At the club, I had to overcome the language barrier because, at first, I didn’t understand what the kids and coaches were saying. They barely speak English. When you don’t know the language, social integration is harder. But I learned to speak relatively quickly, and even in the middle of the first season, they took me for an interview on Barça TV. Of course, there were additional challenges, such as learning the playing system and more. Today, I already feel very much part of the club and the team."
A day in the life at La Masia
What does a typical day look like for him at La Masia?
"In general, the daily schedule is similar to Israel, although quite busy. We finish school at 4:30 in the afternoon, I eat something, go to training and return home at 9:30 in the evening. Then I do homework, eat and sleep. That’s how it is every day except Friday, and on weekends, there’s a match. At an older age, I might live and study in the club’s dormitory."
How does it feel to be the only Israeli at the academy?
"I feel like I’m representing Israel in everything I do, on and off the field. It’s a great honor, and I hope to succeed and make everyone in the country proud. There are many talented kids in Israeli soccer, no less than me."
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Who is your playing role model?
"Andrés Iniesta, Pedri and, of course, Messi. Naturally, my style fits Barcelona, but that’s not enough. I try to learn and improve all the time. At Maccabi Petah Tikva, I received excellent fundamentals, and I also trained privately to strengthen the technical and mental skills not addressed in team practices."
What is your current focus in training right now?
"I’m trying to improve my ability to threaten the goal."
Professionally speaking, which player at La Masia impressed you the most?
"Raúl Expósito, our captain and my teammate. He’s an excellent player and, in my opinion, has a bright future."
What are your short-term and long-term goals?
"The competition at Barça is very tough. I strive to perform at a high level in every practice and game. In the longer term, my goal is to play for the senior team, and from there, the sky’s the limit."