Bradley Barcola has not featured for Paris Saint-Germain at any point this season, with his future firmly settled after his move to Liverpool.
PSG coach Luis Enrique insisted the sale of the France winger to Liverpool was a good deal for all parties, as the reigning European champions prepare to defend their Champions League title without one of their key players from the past two campaigns.
UK ONLY
The comments come as PSG look to rebuild their front line following a summer of significant departures. Enrique also saw PSG sell Portugal striker Goncalo Ramos to AC Milan and Senegal winger Ibrahim Mbaye to Aston Villa this summer.
The Spaniard made his remarks to reporters on the eve of PSG’s Ligue 1 clash at home to Monaco.
PSG have made an uneven start to the new campaign.
The club drew their opening two Ligue 1 games against Rennes and Lille, and lost to Lens in the French Champions Trophy, though they did beat Aston Villa to win the UEFA Super Cup.
They begin their bid for a third straight Champions League title at home to Slovan Bratislava next Wednesday.
It was in that setting that Enrique addressed Barcola’s departure directly.
Speaking about the Frenchman’s move to Anfield, he said: “Barcola? That’s a different story. He’s grown tremendously at Paris, but he’s also helped the team grow just as much.
“He wanted more playing time, and I couldn’t guarantee it to him. In the end, I think everyone comes out a winner. I genuinely wish him all the best.”
Enrique noted that Barcola still had two years left on his PSG contract but decided to leave, adding that the winger had been a very important player for the club and was well liked by his teammates.
Barcola’s move to Liverpool was completed this summer in a deal worth up to £123 million.
Liverpool paid a guaranteed £106 million for the France international, with the potential for a further £17 million in performance-based add-ons.
He signed a five-year contract at Anfield and became the second-most-expensive signing in the club’s history, behind the £125 million addition of striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle United the previous summer.
The 23-year-old arrives on the back of a productive campaign in Paris. Bradley Barcola made 49 appearances for PSG last season, scoring 13 goals and providing seven assists under Luis Enrique.
He also played eight games for France at last summer’s World Cup, scoring three times.
He now wears the No. 29 shirt at Liverpool.
Want to get the latest Liverpool news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.