
Aurelien Tchouameni (foto: Getty Images)
Aurelien Tchouameni, now at Real Madrid, could have joined Barcelona, but long-time scout Bojan Krkić Sr. was not convinced of his potential for top-level football.
Aurelien Tchouameni, the French midfielder struggling for form at Real Madrid, was once on Barcelona’s radar. Before his €80 million move to Madrid in the summer of 2022, Barcelona had the chance to sign him but opted against it. The decision came after a recommendation from Cesc Fabregas, Tchouameni’s teammate at Monaco, who personally called Barcelona to endorse the player.
Barcelona dispatched scout Bojan Krkić Sr. to assess Tchouameni. Krkić, who worked as a scout for Barcelona for over a decade and later spent five years at Manchester City, watched the midfielder play multiple times but was unimpressed. "I watched him two or three times, against Marseille and PSG. Each time, I noted the same thing: he’s aggressive, strong, and full of energy, but he lacks creativity. He didn’t strike me as the kind of player who could succeed at the biggest clubs. I didn’t like him," Krkić explained.
Tchouameni has since joined Real Madrid but is facing challenges to justify his hefty price tag. His form has mirrored Real Madrid's struggles, leading to questions about whether Barcelona’s initial doubts were valid.
Meanwhile, Krkić Sr. is currently unemployed, while his son, Bojan Krkić Perez, once a highly touted prospect at Barcelona, has returned to the club. The younger Krkić now oversees players on loan, a role that keeps him involved in shaping Barcelona’s future talent pipeline.