Before playing for PSG and Manchester City, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland were approached by FC Barcelona. A former Blaugrana manager revealed the content of the discussions.
They are today two of the most prominent players on the football planet. 2018 world champion with France and Paris Saint-Germain striker about to head to Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappé has justified the hopes placed in him from a very young age. Same thing for Erling Haaland, author of a fiery season and a historic successful treble with Manchester City last year with a Champions League, a Premier League title and an FA Cup. A few years earlier, FC Barcelona had been very close to offering their services.
At least this is the version given by Javier Bordas on Thursday at the microphone ofEl Chiringuito. Former sporting director of the Catalan club, the latter spoke of the discussions which took place during his time with the entourage of the two offensive nuggets. First of all, about the Bondynois: “ If I had been the final decision-maker, Mbappé would have become a Barça player. When they sold Neymar for 222 million euros, we had the money to recruit him. But the management preferred (Ousmane) Dembélé. I pushed for Mbappé, I spoke with his father, he wanted to come to Barça. At one point, I thought we were going to sign him. »
Two missed opportunities
As for the track leading to Erling Haaland, Javier Bordas also explained that it did not matter much: “ Haaland wants to come to Spain, we know it. He wanted to come to Barça. It would have cost us twenty million euros for Salzburg and another twenty million for (Mino) Raiola. That was the moment he exploded. There were discussions, but there was (Luis) Suarez and the technicians chose not to recruit him. »
FC Barcelona would therefore have missed out on the two greatest attackers of the moment, according to the former Blaugrana sports director. If the arrival of Kylian Mbappé looks more like a utopia than anything else today, FC Barcelona still seems to hope to see Erling Haaland one day wear their colors. Only time will tell what will happen.
