What if Vinicius Junior had chosen FC Barcelona? The Brazilian striker, now a Real Madrid executive, could have had a very different trajectory. Revealed at CR Flamengo, he finally joined Casa Blanca in 2018 at just 18 years old, where he established himself as one of the major players in the squad.
However, FC Barcelona was not far from winning the game. Josep Maria Bartomeu, former Blaugrana president, confirmed to
ESPN Sports that the Catalan club was closely following the player. “Vinicius Junior interested us (at Barça)”he said.
The ex-manager even ensures that discussions were advanced with the player’s representatives and family. “We spoke with his family, with his agents, and there was indeed an agreement in principle. Madrid probably made a better offer than Barça and signed Vinicius”added Bartomeu.
Mbappé also approached
Since then, the Brazilian has established himself as a key player for Real Madrid, with 127 goals and 100 assists in 372 matches in all competitions. He has also been instrumental in several major titles, including the 2022 Champions League.
His current teammate Kylian Mbappé could also have had a different destiny. Here again, Barça had tried their luck, as Bartomeu recalled: “I remember speaking to Mbappé’s father several times, but Paris Saint-Germain pressed Monaco and Mbappé a lot. » Revelations which revive Catalan regrets a few hours before the Clasico.
