BARCELONA -- Ballou Tabla is providing inspiration for young Canadian footballers, but the Barcelona teenager told ESPN FC he has not yet decided which country to represent at the senior international level.

Ballou, who turns 19 this week and joined Barca's B team from the Montreal Impact in January, has played for Canada at the under-17 and U20 levels but is also eligible to play for Ivory Coast, the country of his birth.

He said he was in no rush to make a decision but may seek advice from...

BARCELONA -- Barcelona new boy Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla says he is receiving guidance from former Chelsea star Didier Drogba as he looks to make it at Camp Nou.

Ballou, 18, joined Barca's B team in January for an undisclosed fee from MLS side Montreal Impact.

The Canada youth international, who was born in Ivory Coast, made his debut in Saturday's 1-0 loss to Alcorcon as a second-half substitute at the Mini Estadi. But despite being unable to help turn things around against Alcorcon, Ballou impressed...

Barcelona have confirmed the signing of Canadian teenager Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla from the Montreal Impact.

Ballou, 18, joins the Catalan club's B team on an initial three-year deal, with a buyout clause set at €25 million. There's also a clause in his contract that would allow the club to extend his terms by an additional two years, which would in turn see the clause rise to €75m.

Barca have not confirmed the cost of the deal, merely saying that "an agreement was reached with Montreal...

Montreal Impact midfielder Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla apologized for skipping training on Tuesday amid transfer links.

Sources on Monday said Tabla had told the Impact he wanted to leave after the MLS club rejected offers from Europe, and the 18-year-old did not show up to training the next day.

But on Wednesday, he said on Twitter that he was sorry for his action while acknowledging his "ambition" to go to a bigger club.

"Yes, I have ambition and I'd like to go to the top level in my career, but I'm...

Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla has told Montreal Impact he wants to leave after the MLS club rejected several offers for his services, sources close to the player have told ESPN FC.

A number of European clubs including Chelsea are tracking Tabla, 18, after the winger's impressive showings for Montreal in the MLS this season.

Tabla scored on his first MLS start for Impact in April after progressing from the reserves and he has scored three goals in 19 appearances so far this season.

An unnamed European club...

Chelsea are among several European clubs monitoring Montreal Impact winger Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla, sources close to the player have told ESPN FC.

Tabla, 18, scored on his first MLS start for Impact in April after progressing from the reserves and has made 17 appearances so far this season.

Premier League champions Chelsea are monitoring Tabla after being alerted to his potential by Didier Drogba, who worked with him during his spell in Montreal, sources said, while Ligue 1 side Lille and Austrian...