Barcelona Turned Down The Chance To Sign Paulo Dybala
REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes
Barcelona have had a summer to forget, as not only have they bid goodbye to a future Ballon d’Or winner in the shape of Neymar, but they also failed to bring in the desired targets to replace him. The Catalan club did manage to eventually sign Paulinho and Ousmane Dembele before the end of the market, but this only came about after their chase of Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho crumbled in front of the world watching.
The La Liga giants were desperate to bring the Brazilian magician to the Nou Camp, but Jurgen Klopp was having none of it. The handing in of a transfer request did not help matters either, and despite the humongous amount of cash offered, Ernesto Valverde had to accept the fact that Coutinho will not join his side during his debut season as manager.
But now, according to AS, Barcelona could have had another sensational deal come to life had they looked towards the Serie A in particular.
Paulo Dybala was one of the best players in Europe last season, and is already being tipped as Lionel Messi’s successor in the Argentine NT. Juventus were willing to sell their playmaker this summer, and would have gladly done business with Barcelona. The fee that the Old Lady were looking for was in the area of £120m – lesser than what Barca desperately paid for Dembele.
REUTERS/Giorgio Perottino
Reports suggest that Barca sporting director, Robert Fernandez, did not see Dybala to be compatible with fellow countryman Messi, and hence, shifted all major focus towards Coutinho. The young playmaker was also offered to the Spanish side a second time, but the response was negatively similar.
With Coutinho still at Anfield and Neymar running the show for PSG, not bringing the Argentine in could be a decision Valverde and Fernandez might just regret at the end of the season.
Written by Vikram Gupta 
An attacker with his words, and defends each of them with pride. A love for the game which goes hand in hand with his will to forever write. A graduate in the course of advertising and a hopeful to be author. Herrera for the win.