"Neymar's departure came as a shock to the club; we didn't want him to leave. After that, we started looking for a replacement. We made an offer for Mbappe and another for Dembele. The coaching staff preferred Dembele."
"It wasn't an offer in the strict sense. They would say to you: he's worth €180 million. If you want Mbappe, it's €180 million, and Paris paid it."
"I was heavily criticised by all the media, so I learnt the lesson that the president or administrators cannot interfere in sporting matters."
Neymar's record-breaking transfer to Paris Saint-Germain shocked Barcelona, prompting the club to seek a replacement. Former president Bartomeu revealed they pursued Kylian Mbappe but opted for Ousmane Dembele due to financial demands. Barcelona paid €105 million plus €40 million in add-ons for Dembele. Bartomeu emphasized his non-interference in sporting decisions, citing criticism from the media as a reason for stepping back from such matters, except for the signing of Luis Suarez.
Read at Barca Universal
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