Barcelona youngster Xavier Mbuyamba has revealed that he was close to joining Chelsea but their transfer ban saw the move from MVV cancelled.
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In the summer, Mbuyamba made the surprising move from MVV Maastricht to Barcelona. However, the 17-year-old was close to joining Chelsea before their transfer ban scuppered the deal.
Speaking to Voetbal International, the centre-back said, “They (Chelsea) came to watch some games and then I was hoping to play so I could show what I can do. They came in May, but then we had to wait for the results of the CAS in August. In the end we had to wait even longer and it was cancelled.”
Mbuyamba is very happy to be in Barcelona though, “I’m also very happy to be playing there now. It is going very well in the Under-19 training and I hope to be able to grow quickly. Within a few years I want to play in the first team.”
Patrick Kluivert is head of youth development at Barcelona and played a key role in bringing Mbuyamba to the Catalan giants, “He watched me and thought that I was a good match for the playing style of Barça. Because I am good on the ball, you should of course have that there.”
Barcelona B is now the key aim for the Netherlands U19 international, “I now want to train as much as possible at Barcelona B, but moving on to that team is now not yet possible. That will come next year, and then I want to play. “
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