‘Couldn’t do that’ – How Mika Faye’s situation cost Barcelona a key summer signing | OneFootball

An insight into the reasoning behind Barcelona’s ultimately fruitless attempt to sign Jorthy Mokio this summer has on Monday been provided.

The name of defender Mokio, of course, took its place front and centre in the headlines in Catalunya’s capital for some time over the course of recent months.

As much came after widespread confirmation was forthcoming that the 16-year-old, already a first-team player at Gent, had been earmarked by the Barcelona brass as a leading transfer target.

Mokio’s entourage went as far as to travel to the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, to hold discussions with Deco and his team of directors.

And yet, when all was said and done, the Blaugrana missed out.

Late last month, the prodigious stopper penned terms with Dutch heavyweights Ajax, through the summer of 2027.

So, what exactly played out to culminate in Mokio and his representatives opting for Amsterdam, over Catalunya?

As alluded to above, an insight into as much has today been provided, by none other than the Belgian starlet’s father.

Speaking in an interview with ‘Het Belang van Limburg’, as cited by Diario Sport, Thierry Mokio was drawn on the decision to turn a club with the stature of Barcelona down.

And Mokio was more than honest in his response, first explaining:

“They told us they were going to do like with Lamine Yamal or Cubarsí . We spoke to Deco, the sporting director, and he told us that he would train with the first-team.”

In the end, however, it was the ‘pressure’ which comes with lining out for Barcelona, alongside the club’s alleged plans for young stopper Mikayil Faye, which proved decisive in the call on his son’s future:

“The pressure at Barça is of another dimension. If it doesn’t work out, you end up at Osasuna, for example, and you’re lost. It seemed like too big a step to take. It’s true that there was a moment when we had decided to sign for Barça, but then we see that they want to sell a 19-year-old defender to Porto. It’s too much. I couldn’t do that to my son.”

Conor Laird | GSFN