Kibet, who has been on Real Madrid’s radar since joining Spain’s Nastic Soccer Academy, has disclosed his aspiration to play for Barcelona. Kenya U18 standout Aldrine Kibet has experienced a meteoric rise over the past year, captivating the football world during the 2023 Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) games in Kakamega last August.
He was awarded the Most Valuable Player before relocating to Spain’s Nastic Academy in Tarragona with fellow Kenyans Amos Wanjala and Alvin Kasavuli.
Since then, the 17-year-old led Kenya U18 to the 2023 CECAFA U18 Boys’ Championship finals, where they narrowly lost to Uganda in Kisumu. Kibet emerged as the tournament’s top scorer, and his prominence continues to grow. Now, Kibet, who has caught the attention of Real Madrid since his move to Spain, has expressed his dedication to achieving his dream of playing for their fierce rivals, Barcelona, situated not far from Tarragona.
“Since I was young, playing for Barcelona has been my dream. I admire their style, the Guardiola football, tiki-taka. My goal is to play for Barcelona,” Kibet shared with Citizen TV.
“It’s not just about watching Barcelona; I aim to play alongside them.”
Kibet also shared how he seized the opportunity to move to Spain, crediting his father’s advice for his success in the trials at Juja Preparatory School in Thika.
“My father told me, ‘Be basic, don’t try to be Messi. Just pass and move; that’s what they’re looking for.’ Following his advice, I seized the opportunity to come here.”
Despite his evident talent, Kibet faced rejection from football academies twice before finally being accepted by St. Anthony’s Boys Kitale.
“After being rejected twice, joining St. Anthony’s Boys presented another challenge, to make it to the first team.”
Kibet was recently honored as the first runner-up in the boys’ category at the Sports Personality of the Year (SOYA) awards, narrowly missing out to Ismael Kipkirui.
Nonetheless, Kibet is motivated to strive for the top spot in the future.
“Being named number two is motivating, but I aim for the number one spot. It’s a big motivation for me, and I’m thrilled.”
Kibet also spoke about the strong bonds he has formed with his teammates in Tarragona.
“Although we were strangers at first, we quickly became best friends. We support each other like a family here, sharing everything and enjoying our time together.”
Kibet is looking forward to joining Wanjala in the U-19 setup, especially after Wanjala signed professional terms with Nastic and recently debuted against the Barcelona U-19 team.
