Thierry Henry has heaped praise on Bournemouth teenager Eli Junior Kroupi, labeling the Barcelona target as a player with "raw talent and desire" that sets him apart from his peers.

The former Barcelona striker knows Kroupi well from his time managing France's Under-21 side. In fact, Henry was so impressed by the youngster that he considered calling him up at just 16 years old—a decision that raised eyebrows at the time.

"I thought of taking him when he was only 16 with the U21s. That didn't go down too well at the time because he hadn't played with the U17s, the U18s, the U19s," Henry explained. "But when you see someone who has that raw talent and desire, age doesn't matter."

Kroupi has been turning heads in the Premier League this season, establishing himself as the top-scoring teenager in the English top flight with 12 goals in the 2025-26 campaign. His knack for finding the back of the net has drawn comparisons to one of England's most clinical finishers.

"He has been proving that he's a great goalscorer, very Jermain Defoe-like when he's in the box," Henry added. "He can play on the right, on the left. He has an eye for a goal and he has a good future."

With Barcelona reportedly monitoring his progress closely, Kroupi has also attracted interest from several top Premier League clubs ahead of what could be a blockbuster summer transfer. For a player still in his teens, the future is looking exceptionally bright—and Henry's seal of approval only adds to the excitement surrounding this rising star.