Jesse Bisiwu has kept his international future open while maintaining a primary focus on his commitments with Belgium’s under-21 national team and his recent club development at Barcelona. The 18-year-old midfielder, who transferred to the Catalan giants after rising through the ranks in Belgium, remains eligible to represent Ghana through his family background.
Speaking about his current status, Bisiwu noted that a definitive choice between the two nations has not been made, though he is not spending time pondering the long-term decision. For now, his attention rests squarely on helping the Jonge Duivels secure qualification for next summer’s European Championship.
“Momenteel ligt mijn volledige focus op de U21 van België en zorgen dat we ons kwalificeren,” Bisiwu said in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad, making it clear that international switching chatter takes a back seat to competitive fixtures.
Transition to Barcelona Atlètic
The teenager’s path to La Masia involved several stops. While Bisiwu never broke into the senior matchday squad at Club Brugge, he accumulated 36 appearances in the Challenger Pro League for Club NXT. That groundwork earned him a move to Spain, where he has begun featuring for Barcelona Atlètic.
Reflecting on his initial weeks in Catalonia, the youngster described the environment as surreal. “Eerlijk gezegd waren de eerste weken precies een droom,” he said. “Er is veel op me afgekomen, maar door mijn begeleiders heb ik dat goed opgenomen en mijn ding kunnen doen.”
Adapting to a global powerhouse brought him into immediate contact with some of the sport’s most recognizable figures. Rather than feeling overwhelmed by the expectations at a club of Barcelona’s stature, Bisiwu pointed to veteran leaders who eased his transition into the dressing room.
“Kapitein Raphinha en Frenkie de Jong kwamen meteen naar me toe om me op mijn gemak te stellen,” Bisiwu said. He added that he aims to stay grounded despite the heightened spotlight: “Bij een club als Barcelona zijn te verwachtingen en denken mensen meteen dat je een grotere speler bent. Maar ik ben gewoon mezelf gebleven.”
Return to the Jonge Duivels
That level-headed approach traveled with him back to the Belgian youth setup during the international window. Having crossed paths with several teammates during his time in Bruges, Bisiwu described his integration into the U21 squad as a warm reception.
With the current qualification cycle underway, the squad’s immediate targets are straightforward. “Zoals de coach zei, ligt onze focus nu op de komende wedstrijden en we zullen zien hoe ver we kunnen raken,” Bisiwu said.
As he continues to build his professional foundation in Spain and tests himself at the international youth level, any permanent senior cap decision involving Belgium or Ghana remains a question for another day.
