Emmanuel Petit has claimed that everyone in France knew Liverpool paid far more than Bradley Barcola's true value for the winger, who arrived in a blockbuster transfer from Paris Saint-Germain
Bradley Barcola was one of several signings for Liverpool in the summer transfer window
Bradley Barcola was one of several signings for Liverpool in the summer transfer window(Image: Getty Images)
Emmanuel Petit has revealed that the soccer world in France was well aware that Liverpool significantly overpaid for Bradley Barcola.
The Reds spent much of the summer chasing the Paris Saint-Germain winger before finally completing the deal in the closing stages of the transfer window. Despite Barcola being keen to depart from the European champions, PSG held firm and demanded an inflated price, which Liverpool ultimately agreed to meet.
The deal was finalized at £ 106 million ($140 million), with the fee potentially rising to £123 million ($163 million) for the French international. The winger has struggled to make a notable impact during his short spell at Anfield, despite ranking among the five most expensive signings in English soccer history.
Barcola is yet to contribute a single goal or assist across six appearances in all competitions, though this is partly reflective of Liverpool's broader difficulties this campaign under new head coach Andoni Iraola.
French soccer icon Petit, a World Cup and European Championship winner, is unsurprised that the 24-year-old has thus far failed to live up to his hefty price tag.
The former Arsenal midfielder believes Barcola's true market value sits closer to £60 million ($80 million) — roughly half of what Liverpool eventually forked out.
Barcola has yet to score for Liverpool
Barcola has yet to score for Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Petit told talkSPORT: "£120 million? I would never put that price tag on the table. We all know that in France.
"We know that he is a quality player; he could sometimes be great, but he doesn't have consistency during games. He was good most of the time with Paris because of the whole team behind him."
Barcola registered 13 goals and seven assists in an impressive campaign for PSG across all competitions last season .
However, he struggled to cement his place as Luis Enrique's first -choice winger, largely owing to the exceptional quality of PSG's alternative attacking personnel.
When asked directly whether Liverpool had overpaid for the wide player, Petit responded: "Oh yeah, definitely. I would probably have spent £60 million or £70 million ($92 million), maximum. That's my opinion.
"It's becoming common now that English clubs are spending so much money on overrated players."
Four of the Premier League's five most expensive transfers on record were concluded during the summer window. Manchester City's acquisitions of Enzo Fernandez and Elliot Anderson represent two of those deals, while Barcola's switch and Morgan Rogers's move to Chelsea comprised the others.
Across the previous two summer windows, Liverpool has also invested upwards of $130 million on Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, neither of whom has vindicated their substantial price tags.