Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé at Barcelona? Josep Bartomeu on talks

Former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has stated that the membership had an “agreement in principle” to signal Vinícius Junior earlier than the Brazil winger signed for rivals real Madrid.

Madrid, then managed by Zinedine Zidane, introduced in 2017 that they’d agreed to a deal to signal Vinícius from Flamengo, with the deal to undergo a yr later when he turned 18.

He has since change into the point of interest of Madrid’s LaLiga and Champions League success and one of the highly-rated forwards on this planet.

Vinícius said in 2019 that he selected to hitch Madrid as he felt there have been extra alternatives at the membership, regardless of Barça “offering more money.”

And Speaking to ESPN DeportesBartomeu has revealed that Barcelona did make progress on a possible deal for the winger.

“Vinícius was of interest to the club [Barça]”We spoke together with his household, together with his brokers, and there was certainly an settlement in precept,” Bartomeu told ESPN.

“Madrid presumably made a greater provide than Barça and took Vinícius.”

Bartomeu additionally stated that he spoke with one other Madrid star earlier than they finally moved to Spain, with Kylian Mbappé on Barça’s radar throughout his time at Monaco.

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“Monaco was asking for very excessive figures that Barça may pay at that point. We had been the membership on this planet that earned probably the most cash, the one with the very best ratios. Well, the reality is that we’re in a really, superb monetary state of affairs,” Bartomeu said.

“I keep in mind talking with Mbappé’s father a few occasions, however Paris Saint-Germain put plenty of stress on Monaco, and I believe Mbappé additionally most well-liked to go to PSG, a French workforce.

“We were negotiating with Ousmane Dembélé, who was the coaches’ preferred player.”