No wonder that when the Merseyside club came knocking, the forward “didn’t ask any questions”, as he said in his first interview after a £123m move to Anfield. Barcola joined after three seasons with Paris Saint-Germain but came through the ranks at Lyon, where interviews are conducted with returning youth players at the start of each campaign. It was during one such discussion that Barcola made his revelation to Barlet.
Either way, Barcola made a summer exit from PSG a priority. Despite his contract with the European champions running until 2028, he looked increasingly a spare part in a PSG attack full of world-class talent. Barcola falls into that bracket, too, but it did not prevent him from being overlooked in the biggest fixtures.
Last season he started all of PSG’s Champions League fixtures up to and including the last-16 second leg against Chelsea, only to be demoted to the bench thereafter. Although he has played in the past two Champions League finals, he was restricted to substitute appearances in both. Barcola cannot have too many quarrels about Luis Enrique’s decision to start Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in his place.
The Georgian’s signing in January 2025 did, however, spell trouble for the Frenchman. An inability to be as effective on the right or through the middle limited opportunities in the big games and made an exit the logical choice, especially after proving himself capable of shining on the biggest stage: half of Barcola’s goals for France (three of six) came at the most recent World Cup. For all parties, the timing was perfect.
Barcola’s performances in North America, in part, allowed PSG to make a near €100m profit on him. He is the club’s most expensive departure, outstripping the €90m received from Al-Hilal for Neymar, and contributed significantly to PSG making about €350m in player sales, a record for a Ligue 1 club in a summer window. Barcola was immensely popular in the PSG dressing room, evidenced by the outpouring of goodbye messages from now former teammates.
He also leaves with the best wishes of the club. Despite his desire to join Liverpool, he never agitated for a move. It is understood his absence from matchday squads at the start of this season can be attributed to the club’s desire to protect Barcola, not sanction him.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
