Former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has disclosed that the club was on the verge of signing Real Madrid’s star forward, Vinicius Jr., before he joined their arch-rivals.
According to Bartomeu, speaking to ESPN ahead of the recent Clasico, Barcelona had extensive discussions with Vinicius Jr.’s family and representatives. «Vinicius was of interest to Barca, we spoke with his family and his advisors, and there was indeed a basic agreement,» Bartomeu stated. The plan was to finalize a deal with the then 17-year-old from Flamengo Rio de Janeiro, which would become effective upon his reaching adulthood.
However, Real Madrid ultimately secured the talented winger. Vinicius Jr. has since developed into one of the world’s leading attackers at Real Madrid, contributing to three league titles and two Champions League victories.
«Madrid probably made a better offer than Barca,» Bartomeu suggested. Vinicius Jr. himself has previously indicated that while Barcelona offered more money, he perceived Real Madrid as presenting a superior sporting project.
Dembele Instead of Mbappe: How Barca Missed Out Again
Bartomeu also revealed Barcelona’s pursuit of Kylian Mbappe, who now plays for Real Madrid. At the time, Paris Saint-Germain secured the young prodigy after his impressive performances with AS Monaco in 2017, leading them to the French championship as a teenager.
«Monaco asked for a lot of money» for Mbappe, Bartomeu recounted, although Barcelona could have afforded the fee. Negotiations had also progressed positively.
«I remember speaking with Mbappe’s father a few times, but Paris Saint-Germain exerted great pressure on Monaco, and I believe Mbappe also preferred to go to PSG, a French club,» Bartomeu added.
Instead, Barcelona signed Ousmane Dembele from Borussia Dortmund. Dembele’s tenure in Catalonia was largely disappointing, though he has since found form at PSG and even won the Ballon d’Or.
Vinicius Junior: His Statistics for Real Madrid
| Competition | Appearances | Goals/Assists |
|---|---|---|
| La Liga | 239 | 76/48 |
| Champions League | 82 | 34/33 |
| Copa del Rey | 27 | 7/12 |
| Others | 24 | 10/7 |
| Total | 372 | 127/100 |