Barcelona 16-year-old Labinot Kabashi dubbed ‘the new Andres Iniesta’ has gone from refugee to international footballer

LABINOT KASBASHI is the latest sensation to emerge at Barcelona.

At just 16, he has been called up to represent the newly-formed Kosovo national team.

Several players who played for other international sides have been given the opportunity to represent Kosovo.

And Kabashi is among to best talents available.

He has been likened to Andres Iniesta for his style and hunger for the game.

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Kabashi was born in 2000 in what is now Kosovo, but fled the war-torn country with his family at the age of two to escape ethnic cleansing by Serbian forces of those with Albanian roots.

Until 2008, it was Serbian territory until Kosovo earned its independence.

In 2013, Kabashi moved to Barcelona.

Kosovo made its Fifa debut in a 2-0 victory over the Faroe Islands in June, before drawing 1-1 with Finland in their first competitive game.

Adnan Januzaj reportedly appealed to football’s governing body in an attempt to be granted permission to represent Kosovo.

And the country’s football federation is on the lookout for more talent.

Kabashi is one and, after his call-up, he revealed his surprise, telling : “At first I thought they were playing a joke on me.

“But I saw it wasn’t and I’m very happy. I’m proud to be able to play for Kosovo.”

Kabashi has lived in Spain since the age of two and has a Finnish mother — but will become ineligible to play for either if he appears in the upcoming qualifiers against Croatia and Ukraine.