The race for Bradley Barcola has shifted into a higher gear. FC Barcelona are just one of the teams interested; it’s becoming a crowded pack of heavyweights.
While Sky Germany reports that Arsenal has already jumped the gun by opening talks with the winger’s representatives, Paris Saint-Germain isn’t exactly rolling out the red carpet for a departure. Instead, the word from France is that the club is actually looking to lock him down longer with a contract renewal.
PSG’s public stance is one of total
defense. They seem to view the current noise as a byproduct of having too much talent rather than a failure to integrate the 22-year-old. Diario SPORT reports that club sources said that “when we signed him from Lyon, nobody but us believed he would get this far.” It is a classic move to drive up the price or kill the narrative of a sale.
The same sources admitted that rotation is a headache, noting, “We have four players so good that when one is left out, we are criticized… we understand his frustration, but these are the coach’s decisions.”
But for Barça, that frustration is the opening they need. Sky Sports indicates the club is keeping a very close eye on the situation, seeing Barcola as the perfect option for the wings. He has the 1v1 spark the current squad sometimes lacks, especially if Marcus Rashford returns to Manchester United.
The irony is that Barcola has delivered whenever called upon, even helping sink Bayern Munich in an UEFA Champions League semifinal.
Yet, as L’Équipe put it, the winger currently seems “condemned to be the eternal 12th man” behind the likes of Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. With 38 goals and 37 assists in his PSG career, he’s far too productive to be a permanent bench warmer.
Barcelona’s interest is no secret in Europe’s sports pages. But the competition for the player is becoming a problem. Apart from Arsenal, Liverpool are seen as highly interested.
