Liverpool are doing all they can to bring Bradley Barcola to Anfield this summer and the Frenchman appeared to be disengaged and emotional after PSG won the Super Cup on Wednesday evening.
Neither Barcola oor Ibrahim Mbaye played a minute of the UEFA Super Cup final between PSG and Aston Villa, which ended 2-1 to the Parisians, although the most interesting aspect of the game – from a Liverpool perspective – came after full time.
With both players heavily linked with transfers to Liverpool this summer, it seems as though both players were kept safe and sound on the bench to avoid injuries derailing their potential multi-million-pound exits.
After the game, PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi spoke coyly on the ongoing talks for the attacking duo, but he expertly avoided giving away any clues as to the state of the negotiations.
He told Canal Plus: “We’re working calmly, we don’t talk too much, we do. I can’t say whether he will leave or not…
“Today, he is a PSG player. We’ll see!”
?? PSG chairman Nasser Al Khelaifi on Bradley Barcola: “We’re working calmly, we don’t talk too much, we do. I can’t say whether he will leave or not…”.
“Today, he is a PSG player. We’ll see!”, told Canal Plus.
The story from May, confirmed: Barcola is not untouchable. ? pic.twitter.com/vq09Re8KWh
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 12, 2026
Liverpool fans speculate about Barcola and Mbaye after muted celebrations following Super Cup triumph
It’s worth noting before we jump in that there is nothing special about winning the UEFA Super Cup. The true honour came when PSG were named Champions of Europe (for a second successive season) in May, but that said, there was certainly something notable about the total lack of expression or engagement from both Barcola and Mbaye after the full-time whistle and trophy presentation.
Fabrizio Romano echoed Al-Khelaifi’s comments with his report on Thursday morning when he said that “talks are ongoing with PSG” as the “Barcola deal remains on,” but the French winger appeared to be saying a final goodbye to PSG players and fans during the aftermath of the win over Villa.
Many Liverpool fans commented on Barcola and Mbaye’s body language after the game, with it blatantly clear that both players have mentally checked out at PSG.
French journalist Sebestien Vidal reports that Barcola is growing increasingly frustrated at his situation in Paris.
He said on X: “Bradley Barcola is increasingly frustrated by his situation at PSG. Faced with huge competition in the Parisian attack and playing time that will decrease, the French winger views a move to Liverpool very favourably and is attracted by the prospect of joining Anfield.”
Barcola and Mbaye don't wanna be there? pic.twitter.com/LEyEtACZm4
— FlorianFlicks (@FlorianFocus) August 12, 2026
Liverpool and PSG remain far apart in their valuations of the two players, but the real clue from last night is that both players were on the bench for the whole game while Luis Enrique used all five subs.