Bartomeu Says Vinicius Jr Had Barcelona Schedule Before Real Madrid Move
Former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu said Vinicius Junior had a preliminary agreement to join Barcelona before the forward moved to Real Madrid, adding fresh weight to the Barcelona schedule before Sunday’s El Clasico. The comments put a former transfer battle back in focus just as Barcelona can clinch La Liga with a result against their rivals.
Bartomeu and Vinicius Junior
Bartomeu said Barcelona spoke with Vinicius Junior’s family and agents and reached an initial agreement. He was direct about the player’s appeal to the club, saying: "Vinicius Jr was of interest to us (Barca)," and then adding, "We spoke with his family, with his agents, and there was indeed an initial agreement."
He also said Madrid may simply have outbid Barcelona for the Brazilian forward. "Madrid possibly made a better offer than Barca and took Vinicius," Bartomeu said. That places the transfer story on a clear financial line: Barcelona were in the race first, but Real Madrid ended with the player.
Real Madrid's 2017 move
Madrid announced an agreement with Flamengo in May 2017 to sign Vinicius Junior when he turned 18. He was 16 at the time and due to reach 18 in July 2018, the minimum age for an international transfer.
The deal worked out for Madrid on the field. Vinicius has scored 127 goals across eight seasons in the first team and won 14 trophies, including two Champions League titles. Those numbers show how large the missed opportunity looks for Barcelona now, especially with the same player sitting on the other side of Sunday’s match.
Barcelona's title path
Bartomeu made his remarks ahead of Sunday’s El Clasico, and the timing matters because Barcelona need one point to hold an 11-point lead over second-place Real Madrid with three rounds left. They will be crowned La Liga champions if they avoid defeat.
That leaves Barcelona with a direct target at home and a reminder of what might have been on the transfer market. The match offers a title chance and a reunion with a player who was once close to wearing their shirt.
