Barcelona defender Jules Kounde left Sevilla for his current club this July for a reported fee of £45 million. However, prior to his move to the La Liga giant he was linked with several clubs across Europe.
Particularly in England, Chelsea and Man City were long time admirers of the defender. Chelsea were pretty close to snapping up the Frenchman last summer. However, the move did not go through.
Speaking about this in a recent interview, Barcelona defender Jules Kounde said: “I’ve joined a huge club, which has known good times but recently has seen fewer. I’m coming to a project that I wouldn’t describe as a rebuild, because there was already a competitive team, but rather a rebound.
“I was interested in being part of this new wave, in search of titles, and putting Barça back where they have always been, among the best.
“Then, there was the conversation with the manager. We talked about football, mainly. I felt a real confidence, a real knowledge of my game and my qualities.
“The time of frustration [of not joining Chelsea in 2021] did not last long. It’s not good to be in that state of mind. And I immediately had in my head the desire to get back to work.
“It is true that I was not far from signing there this summer. Barça were interested but had concerns, but when I got that phone call and I felt there was a possibility they could bring me in, I did not hesitate for long.
“Yes[Guardiola called], but after my first season at Sevilla. It was very tempting, but I had also decided that it was my first year there. And that I could not force anything.
“Yes [Guardiola called again], but players had to leave the club first.”
