Former director reveals why Barcelona decided not to sign Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland

Former Barcelona director Javier Bordas has revealed the club passed up the opportunity to sign both Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland earlier in their careers. The Paris Saint-Germain attacker looks all but certain to join Real Madrid this summer, while Los Blancos also appear to be in pole position to lure the Norwegian striker from Manchester City.

Barça opted to sign Ousmane Dembélé instead of Kylian Mbappé

Speaking on Spanish TV program “El Chiringuito”, Bordas reveals he had pushed for Barça to sign a 19-year-old Mbappé in the summer of 2017, when they sold Neymar to PSG, who also ended up recruiting the French star from Monaco. Discussions, he says, were held with Mbappé's camp, but the Barcelona board instead opted to sign Ousmane Dembélé from Borussia Dortmund.

“If I had been in charge, Mbappé would’ve been playing for Barça. When PSG paid €222 million ($240.55 million) for Neymar, we had the money to sign him. But the board preferred Dembélé. I wanted Mbappé, I spoke to his father, he would’ve come to Barça. At one point on the last day of the transfer window, I thought we had him.”

Luis Suárez stopped Barça from signing Erling Haaland

Bordas also explained La Blaugrana had the chance to sign Haaland from Salzburg before he moved to Borussia Dortmund in 2020, but the presence of Luis Suárez, who left for Atlético Madrid that same year, prompted to coaching staff to say no.

“Haaland wants to play in Spain.

“We would’ve had to pay Salzburg €20 million, plus another €20 million for Raiola. He had already made a name for himself. Discussions were had but Suárez was still there and the coaching staff decided not to sign him.”