Today he is one of the biggest symbols of Real Madrid, but the story of Vinicius Jr. could have been completely different. The former president of FC Barcelona, Josep Maria Bartomeu, recently revealed that the Brazilian forward was very close to joining the Catalan club before signing for the Madrid side.

Advanced negotiations for Vinicius Jr.

The former Blaugrana president explained that FC Barcelona had already made significant progress in talks with the player’s entourage and family. At the club, Vinicius Jr. was seen as an extraordinary talent with the potential to become a global superstar.

“We had spoken with his agent and with his family. He was a player we were very interested in,” Bartomeu said, adding that negotiations were quite advanced before Real Madrid appeared with a much stronger financial proposal.

Flamengo’s decision and the impact on Real Madrid

Ultimately, Flamengo sold the forward to the Spanish giants in 2017 for 45 million euros, a fee that shocked European football given the player’s age at the time. The transfer was officially completed in 2018 and became a move that reshaped the future of Real Madrid.

Over the years, Vinicius Jr. not only justified the investment but also became one of the team’s most decisive players. He currently has 373 appearances and 127 goals for the Madrid club, along with three La Liga titles and two UEFA Champions League trophies, playing a key role in several historic nights.

Market rivalry: Barça vs Real Madrid

Bartomeu clarified that FC Barcelona never made a formal offer because Real Madrid moved faster in negotiations. What existed was a preliminary agreement to begin the final process, but the speed and financial strength of the Madrid side ultimately tipped the balance.

This is not the first time Real Madrid has taken a key target away from FC Barcelona. Cases such as Arda Güler, who was also close to joining the Catalan club before choosing the Bernabéu, highlight this ongoing rivalry in the transfer market. One of the most famous episodes also involved David Beckham, who had spoken with Joan Laporta before eventually signing for Madrid, forcing Barcelona to turn to Ronaldinho instead.

Now, all that remains is to imagine what would have happened if Vinicius Jr. had worn the Blaugrana shirt. Perhaps the recent history of Spanish football would have looked very different.

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