Barcelona has enjoyed a remarkable start to the new season, showcasing a potent attack complemented by a solid defensive lineup. The central defensive duo of Iñigo Martínez and Pau Cubarsí has performed exceptionally well, providing the team with both stability and resilience at the back. As Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen gradually return from their injuries, there is optimism that the defense will only get stronger.
However, it appears that Barcelona may have missed out on adding another standout defender to their ranks. According to Bojan Krkic, the father of former Barça prodigy Bojan, the club had the chance to sign Micky van de Ven but opted not to do so.
During a recent episode of El Bar, a program hosted by Sique Rodríguez, Bojan Krkic shared insights from his time as a scout for Barcelona. He recounted an early scouting trip where he observed van de Ven in a Dutch second-division match between Volendam and AZ Alkmaar. Bojan was highly impressed by the young defender’s performance, noting his remarkable skills and potential.
This revelation raises questions about Barcelona’s scouting decisions and whether they fully recognized the talent available at that time. Van de Ven has since continued to develop, catching the attention of fans and analysts alike, which makes Bojan’s comments all the more significant. As Barcelona continues its quest for success this season, fans can’t help but wonder how the addition of van de Ven could have impacted their defensive lineup.
“They told me that he was developing rapidly, so I went to see him in the next match. That same week, during physical tests in training, it was revealed that the center-back, van de Ven, was actually faster than Kylian Mbappé,” Bojan Krkic shared, as reported by Cadena SER.
Despite Bojan’s strong endorsement and the promising signs he observed, Barcelona ultimately opted against signing the young defender. Bojan explained that he was so impressed by van de Ven’s performance that he immediately informed the club about the talented Dutch player. However, Barcelona’s management, led by then sporting director Éric Abidal and director Ramón Planes, decided not to pursue the deal for just €3 million, citing “sporting issues” as the reason for their hesitancy.
This decision allowed VfL Wolfsburg to seize the opportunity and secure van de Ven’s services in 2021 for a fee of €8 million. It’s noteworthy that this was still a relatively modest investment for a player with such potential. Fast forward two years, and Wolfsburg would reap the rewards of their foresight, selling van de Ven to Tottenham for an impressive €40 million.
This chain of events not only underscores the potential misjudgment by Barcelona but also highlights the rapidly changing nature of player valuation in football. As van de Ven’s skills continued to develop and attract attention, the question lingers: how might Barcelona’s defensive lineup look today had they acted decisively to sign him when they had the chance? The scenario serves as a reminder of the critical importance of timely decisions in the fast-paced world of football transfers, especially when it comes to young talent.
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