On the eve of his entry into the competition with the Netherlands, against Ukraine, this Sunday, in Group C of the Euro, where he will celebrate his 76th selection, Georginio Wijnaldum, took the time to explain, at a press conference, why he had finally preferred PSG to FC Barcelona when the arrival of the Liverpool midfielder was formalized two days ago.
The 30-year-old said that faced with Barça's "very concrete" interest, before the end of the championship, he already saw himself playing in Spain next season. "I really thought I was going to join Barça," he slipped. At first it was the only club really interested and there were so many meetings…. Perhaps too much because the discussions have apparently dragged on. "We negotiated with Barcelona for four weeks, but we did not come to an agreement," says Wijnaldum. PSG were just faster and more decisive. And the project they have there really attracts me. It was a difficult choice. But we are talking about two very big clubs and I am very happy to have arranged this before the start of the Euro ”.
The one who will be eagerly awaited in the Parisian midfield, where he will have a major role to play, recognizes that he will win more in Paris than in Barcelona.
“But my choice is not just a question of money,” he assures us.
Wijnaldum's turnaround in any case provoked a lot of sometimes angry reactions in Catalonia.
And inevitably a certain disappointment for Frenkie De Jong, his compatriot who was waiting for him at Barça.
“I think he is disappointed, recognizes the future Parisian, but not only him.
You only have to look at social media to see that people are very angry.
But you can also see it in a positive way: it means that Barca fans wanted me to play for their club, and I wanted that too.
But, once again, PSG were faster.
"
An episode that sounds like revenge for Paris two years after being stolen at the last moment by Barça a certain… Frenkie De Jong.
✍️🆕 # WelcomeGini @ GWijnaldum
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- Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) June 10, 2021