Barcelona were in a dilemma in the 2017 transfer period as they wanted to sign a talented forward. The club expressed interest in Kylian Mbappe who played for Monaco at that time. But, the Spanish club chose another player instead of the PSG forward. The forward signed a £166million deal with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2018 after being in Paris on loan for one season.
Mbappe has developed his soccer career since then to be amongst the most expensive footballers today. Barcelona’s former sporting director, Javier Bordas, recently explained that the club lost a gem when they rejected Mbappe. He would have boosted the club’s performance if its management had believed in him.
Bordas’ Opinion About the PSG Superstar
Bordas worked with Barcelona’s presidents; Josep Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell. He stated that Mbappe was the perfect choice unlike Ousmane Dembele, Borussia Dortmund’s then-winger.
The Former director added during El Chiringuito, a Spanish TV show, “If I had been in charge, Mbappe would have played for Barca. I moved for Mbappe. He could have come to Barca. We didn’t specify a price, but he would have gone for €100 million. The coaches told us that they wanted Dembele because of the other players we had. There was the option to bring both of them.”
The Spanish Club Chose Dembele Over Mbappe
Bordas revealed that Barcelona were financially stable in 2017 as they spent £135 million on Dembele. The club had just received £198 million from PSG after selling Neymar Jr. that summer. Therefore, Barcelona would have signed Dembele and Mbappe rather than rejecting the PSG superstar.
Barcelona’s move to sign Dembele was among the worst trades in the club’s history. He was their most expensive player for a while before they signed Philippe Coutinho for £146m in January 2018. Dembele sustained injuries at Camp Nou regularly. His off-the-field challenges and poor form made him score 40 goals in 185 appearances for Barcelona from 2017 to 2023.
On the other hand, the PSG forward is reported to leave Parc des Princes this summer. He is likely to sign with Real Madrid in a free transfer once his current contract expires. But, the Catalans’ fate and his career would have been different if they signed him.
Dembele Leaves Barcelona and Joins PSG
Ousmane Dembele shocked soccer fans last summer when he announced his departure from Camp Nou. This came several days after PSG approached him, and they started negotiations.
Dembele defended his move saying, “Yes, I said I would stay at Barcelona, ??but after speaking with PSG I was convinced that I had to leave. I signed for PSG because it is a French club and I love it. Was the choice easy in my best moment in Barcelona? I simply wanted to sign for PSG. It was more Paris that made me change my mind than not leaving Barcelona.
Mbappe did not try to convince me, I came to Paris because I love the club, it is a French club and I love it. I come from Évreux, not far from here. The world talks about Paris Saint-Germain and it was written that one day I would sign for this club. I have many friends, supporters of the club, who always tried to convince me to come.”
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