Former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has revealed that the club came close to beating arch rivals Real Madrid to the signing of Vinícius Jr.
Wide-man Vinícius swapped his home country of Brazil for Spain’s capital all the way back in 2018, in a big-money move from Flamengo.
The 25-year-old has since gone on to establish himself as one of world football’s leading attackers, with three La Liga titles and a pair of Champions League crowns to his name.
It will in turn no doubt come as a source of surprise to those of a Real Madrid persuasion to learn that, had things played out a little differently, Vinícius could well have spent the same years plying his trade with none other than Barcelona.
Speaking during an interview with ESPN Deportes, as cited by The Athletic, this weekend, ex-Blaugrana chief Josep Bartomeu opened up on his own pursuit of Viní’s signature.
And the Spaniard went on to admit that, at one point, ‘an initial agreement’ was in place to bring the attacker to the Camp Nou:
“Vinícius Jr. was of interest to us. We spoke with his family, with his agents, and there was indeed an initial agreement.”
Bartomeu, who oversaw the boardroom at Barcelona between 2014 and 2020, continued:
”Madrid possibly made a better offer than Barca and took Vinícius.”
Conor Laird – GSFN
