How Barcelona Missed Out on Signing Kylian Mbappe in Favor of Dembele: Ex-Sporting Director Explains

Former Barcelona sporting director, Javier Bordas, has shed light on the club’s missed opportunity to sign Kylian Mbappe back in 2017. Despite having ample funds following Neymar’s record sale to PSG, Barcelona opted to pursue Ousmane Dembele instead, a decision that ultimately backfired.

The Missed Opportunity:
In an interview on Spanish TV show El Chiringuito, Bordas revealed that if it had been up to him, Mbappe would have donned the Barcelona jersey in 2017. With €222 million at their disposal post-Neymar’s departure, Barcelona had the chance to secure Mbappe’s services but chose to prioritize Dembele instead.

Poor Decision Making:
Barcelona’s decision to sign Dembele over Mbappe has been heavily criticized, especially considering Dembele’s failure to live up to expectations at Camp Nou. Despite a hefty transfer fee of up to €147 million, Dembele struggled to make a significant impact and was eventually offloaded to PSG last summer.

What Bordas Said:
Bordas expressed his regret over the missed opportunity, stating, “If I had been in charge, Mbappe would have played for Barca.” He emphasized that they had the chance to secure Mbappe’s signature for around €100 million but were swayed by the coaching staff’s preference for Dembele due to the existing squad dynamics.

Mbappe’s Continued Rise:
While Barcelona missed out on Mbappe, the French superstar has continued to shine both domestically with PSG and internationally with the French national team. With Real Madrid now heavily linked with Mbappe, it seems that the Catalan club’s chance to secure his services has long passed.

Future Prospects:
Mbappe’s imminent departure from PSG on a free transfer has sparked intense speculation about his next destination. Real Madrid appears to be the frontrunner, with reports suggesting that Mbappe has already agreed to join the Spanish giants. However, it’s worth pondering what could have been had Barcelona made a different decision back in 2017.

Barcelona’s rejection of the opportunity to sign Kylian Mbappe in favor of Ousmane Dembele stands as a testament to the complexities of transfer decisions in football. While Dembele’s stint at Camp Nou failed to deliver the desired results, Mbappe’s stellar rise highlights the significance of astute transfer planning and decision-making in the footballing world.

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