While he is today the delight of Nice, Jean-Clair Todibo would like to return to FC Barcelona where he has, he says, “discovered the very, very high level”.
With a few exceptions, like Thierry Henry or Eric Abidal, FC Barcelona has had little success with the French. In recent seasons, many French players have failed to establish themselves in the Blaugrana jersey, like Antoine Griezmann or Lucas Digne. So much so that today, Jules Koundé is the only Blue to still play for FCB.
Nothing to discourage Jean-Clair Todibo, whose first visit to Camp Nou was not a success but who dreams of playing there again. “Return to Barcelona? Why not ?confides the 24-year-old defender on Canal+. I don’t regret my experience at all. I learned a lot from Gerard Piqué, Samuel Umtiti, Clément Lenglet… It did me good. »
Todibo doesn’t hold a grudge against Valverde
Recruited by Barça in Toulouse, in 2019, the international was successively loaned to Schalke and Benfica, before being sent to Nice, where he has been playing since 2021. An OGCN which bought him for 8.5 million euros and where the Guyanese, under contract until 2027, has become one of the sure values in his position in Ligue 1. Enough to seduce the Barcelona leaders again?
Jean-Clair Todibo, whose value is now estimated at some 35 million euros by the specialized site Transfermarkt, would in any case not say no to a new approach from the reigning Spanish champions. Where, according to him, he “discovered the very, very high level” despite very limited playing time under then coach Ernesto Valverde.
“I didn’t get the minutes I wanted because there were very big players in front of mehe remembers. I also had a coach who was under pressure, so it was normal that he fielded Gerard Piqué instead of an inexperienced 19-year-old. » Since then, the native of Cayenne has gained strength and confidence. But will he get another chance?
