There are paths that are more winding than others to achieve success in football. Quickly integrated into the training center of OL, his hometown club, Bradley Barcola was not necessarily destined to become the player he is today. However, the end of Karl Toko-Ekambi’s blood sausage adventure in Lyon allowed Barcola to permanently integrate the A team of his training club and to gain playing time even though he was initially to be loaned out. in Switzerland. It is finally under the leadership of Laurent Blanc during the second part of the 2022-2023 season that he will establish himself in the Gones eleven to form a confusing trio with Alexandre Lacazette and Rayan Cherki. Six months which allow him to sufficiently put himself forward. Tracked by several European teams including PSG, he will join the capital at the very end of the transfer window for 50 million euros.
A heartbreak for Lyon supporters, but a clever choice for the 22-year-old winger. Surrounded by stars among the residents of the Parc des Princes, the Parisian number 29 continued his development while still being as interesting in his entries into play. And according to the minutes collected and the convincing entries, Luis Enrique had to go to the The obvious: Bradley Barcola had to become a starter with PSG. Alongside Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, Barcola had a string of good performances and was even able to honor his first selections with the France team. An express climb that had to be confirmed this season. Without Kylian Mbappé and confirmed as an indisputable starter, the Buers child has had a remarkable start to the season.
Bradley Barcola wants to give the best with PSG
Indeed, author of 8 goals in 13 matches this season, Barcola has matured offensively. Questioned this Sunday in an interview with Parisianthe defector from Lyon explained that he had worked mentally to be even sharper in front of the goal: “yes, clearly. This is what I was missing last year. I was more in a hard-hitting winger role, I didn’t have that killer side. The coach was the first to blame me for it. He always told me that what I was doing was very good, but he reminded me that I was first and foremost an attacker and what we ask of an attacker is to score. I had to incorporate that into my game. If I integrated it, it was certain that I was going to be a very, very good player. When I approached the season, I really put it in my head that I had to be a scorer, more decisive. It’s mostly a question of mentality. This requires being more concentrated, having this desire to score and make people score. You really have to put this in place in your head to say to yourself: “Today, I have to do something!”»
However, his good performances in Ligue 1 do not translate onto the continental scene where the left winger is unable to produce big performances this season. Asked about the difficulties he encounters in the Champions League, the right-hander gave some answers on his European problems: “it’s more difficult to find me on the pitch, I have fewer balls to make a difference. I have to repeat the calls so that my partners can find me with the same ease as in the championship. It’s up to me to continue my efforts. The objective is to succeed in doing so in the Champions League. If I continue, it will go away on its own.» So how far can Bradley Barcola go? Unanimously considered one of the greatest talents in French football, the 22-year-old winger still has to reach certain milestones to become one of the best in the world. An objective which is obviously not really his, as he confided to our colleagues: “I was convinced that it was the right choice to sign here, but I didn’t know that it would cause all this and being top scorer in the championship is not my priority objective. I try to score as many goals as possible, to make assists. But my goal is to win titles. I want to win everything. (…) Become an icon? Frankly, I don’t know. I give my all to Paris but being an icon, I don’t think about it. I just want to be the best, as consistent as possible.» It remains to be seen whether Bradley Barcola will achieve this despite himself during his career.
