Raphael Guerreiro rejected offer from FC Barcelona this summer
They wanted a left back but after he said no, they went for PSG's Lucas Digne, whom they reached a deal with
Barcelona's No 1 objective for a new left-back after Adriano left was Raphael Guerreiro, the Portuguese player who signed for Borussia Dortmund instead, despite Barcelona's offer being larger. In the end the Catalans moved for PSG's Lucas Digne.
The former Lorient man spoke to Canal+ France and said: "It was a difficult decision to say no to Barcelona, but a moment arrived in which I had to decide and I went for Dortmund. I need to have continuity [in the team] and minutes to grow. And I have been lucky that in Germany things are going well for me."
Barcelona met Guerreiro's agents many times at the end of May and start of June. They even flew to Barcelona and the operation could have been completed after the European Championships but he declined it in the end and opted for Dortmund. Barcelona interpreted that he didn't want to fight for his spot with Jordi Alba.
Guerrero added that a year earlier he could have signed for PSG too. "They made me an offer but I decided to stay at Lorient. I wanted to play the maximum number of games possible to go to the Euros with Portugal and I did it. It was a vital decision that allowed me to win this tournament with a magnificent group of players. I'm very grateful for the interest of Barca and PSG."
