Former Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman admits he was denied the chance to sign Georginio Wijnaldum for the La Liga giants when the Dutch international was still a Liverpool player, speaking to AD.
There surely cannot be many footballers who have had a more miserable 18 months than Gini Wijnaldum.
It is no secret that the 2020 Premier League winner wanted to stay at Anfield. But, after contract talks broke down, he had no choice but to embark upon a new adventure. Wijnaldum’s time at Paris Saint-Germain could hardly have gone much worse however and, after moving to the Italian capital, his hopes of a Roma renaissance quickly went up in smoke.
Wijndaldum fractured his leg just two weeks after joining Jose Mourinho’s Serie A giants.
Oh, did we mention Wijnaldum is now set to miss the Qatar World Cup too?
The 31-year-old could be forgiven for wondering how differently things might have panned out, then, had he not been denied a reunion with his former Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman at the Camp Nou before embarking upon that disastrous spell in the French capital.
Barcelona would have signed Georginio Wijnaldum from Liverpool
“I tried to sign Wijnaldum for Barca,” explains Koeman; sacked by the Catalan club 13 months ago.
“But I failed because the President (Joan Laporta) wanted to annoy me more than bringing in a player. That delayed the operation and, for that reason, he opted for PSG.
“Otherwise, he would have played for Barcelona.”
Wijnaldum, who was linked with a shock move to Everton over the summer, is unlikely to kick a ball again before the turn of the year. Per Football Italia, he could be out of action for five months.
“I didn’t respond after my injury because I was really emotional and sad at the situation,” explains Wijnaldum, who has played just 36 minutes of football in Roma colours.
“I want to say sorry for that. I’m in a really good space now. I accept the situation is and that’s why I can now give 100 per cent in my rehab.
“I really want to thank the Roma fans for your support. It gives me the power to come back as quick as possible. I know it’s difficult for you too, as I just joined the club, and you had really big hopes for the season. But there is still time.”
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