Real Madrid megastar duo could have signed for Barcelona, claims ex-president | OneFootball

It is El Clasico night tomorrow in La Liga as Real Madrid travel to the Spotify Camp Nou to take on arch-rivals FC Barcelona, aiming to delay their coronation as champions.

While the talk leading up to the game has been dominated by the state of affairs in the Real Madrid dressing room, the players will be aiming to set it all aside and focus on matters on the pitch.

And, all eyes will once again be on Real Madrid’s top superstars, Vinicius Jr., who scored twice against Espanyol last week, and Kylian Mbappe, who is back from injury.

Vini, Mbappe could have signed for Barcelona

Leading up to the big game, former Barcelona president Josep Mario Bartomeu has interestingly revealed that both Mbappe and Vinicius could have signed for the Blaugrana.

In fact, he acknowledged that an agreement was already in place to sign the Brazilian, in particular, before Real Madrid made their move.

“Vinicius interested the club, we spoke with his family and with his agents, and there was an initial agreement,” Bartomeu explained. However, the Brazilian eventually joined Madrid instead.

Could have joined Barcelona. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)

“Madrid probably made a better offer and ended up signing him,” he added.

The Mbappe case was different, Bartomeu elaborated.

“Monaco were asking for very high figures that Barça could not pay at that moment,” admitted the former president.

“I remember speaking with Mbappé’s father a couple of times, but Paris Saint-Germain pushed very hard with Monaco and I think Kylian also preferred to go to PSG because it was a French club.

“At that time we were negotiating for Ousmane Dembélé, who was the player preferred by the coaching staff,” he further explained.

For Real Madrid to stand a chance tomorrow, they will need one or both of Vinicius and Mbappe to step up and deliver under the bright lights at the Spotify Camp Nou.

Source: MARCA