Soccer-Barca prodigy Bojan set for call-up to Spain squad

MADRID, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Barcelona's talented youngster Bojan Krkic is likely to be called up to Spain's squad for next week's friendly against France in order to prevent him from being poached by Serbia, said national coach Luis Aragones.

"He's only 17, but he has made extraordinary progress. He's got quality, an eye for goal and could be a great player," Aragones told sports daily AS on Wednesday.

"Yes, we might call him up now. My idea that he comes now to stop him going to another national team.

"He's an extraordinary lad and we've been nuturing him through all the youth categories in the national set-up."

Known to Barcelona fans simply as "Bojan", Krkic's father is Serbian but he was born in Spain in Linyola in the province of Lleida. The forward has said he wanted to play for Spain.

Bojan made a name for himself by notching up over 800 goals during his time in the Barcelona youth team set-up and scored on his debut for the first team in an exhibition match against Egyptian side Al-Ahly last April.

He was one of the most eye-catching players in last year's Under-17 World Cup in South Korea and was instrumental in helping Spain get to the final.

However, he received a red card in the dying seconds of the semi-final against Ghana and missed the final against Nigeria, which Spain lost on penalties.

He made his Primera Liga debut against Osasuna this season and became the youngest player to score for the club in the league when he found the net in the 3-1 win over Villarreal in October.