Ex-Barcelona scout reveals the truth behind decision to reject Real Madrid mainstay – ‘Not for a big club’ | OneFootball

In the past few seasons, Aurelien Tchouameni has become an essential player for Real Madrid since joining the club in 2022.

The deal to sign the Frenchman from AS Monaco included a fixed fee of €80 million, along with an additional €20 million in potential variables.

However, what many may not know is that Barcelona closely monitored Tchouameni during his early years, particularly during his time in Monaco.

Despite this interest, the Catalan club ultimately decided not to pursue him, based on a scouting report prepared by Bojan Krkic senior, the father of former Barcelona forward Bojan Krkic junior.

Why did Barcelona reject him?

At the time, Bojan Krkic Sr. held a significant role within Barcelona’s scouting department, where he spent a decade evaluating players before leaving his position at the end of 2020.

Reflecting on his analysis of Tchouameni, Bojan senior shared that he had attended two or three of the young midfielder’s games, including matches against prominent teams like Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille.

“I went to see him two or three times, against PSG and Marseille,” revealed the former scout as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

Aurelien Tchouameni lacked the creativity required to play for Barcelona. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

His observations focused on both the strengths and weaknesses of the player, which ultimately shaped his recommendation to Barcelona.

According to Bojan Sr., Tchouameni exhibited notable qualities such as physical power, strength, and an aggressive approach to marking.

These attributes made him a solid presence in midfield. However, he also noted what he believed was a critical flaw—a lack of creativity.

“In my reports, I always put the same thing: he has power, strength, aggressiveness in marking, even excessive, but creativity; little,” he noted.

This perceived deficiency led him to conclude that Tchouameni might not fit the profile of a player suited for a club of Barcelona’s calibre. Based on this assessment, he decided against recommending the signing of the Frenchman.

This scouting report was archived at Barcelona, like all evaluations conducted by the department. “He was not for a big club. I didn’t like him,” he added.

While Tchouameni has since proved his worth at Real Madrid, Bojan Sr.’s decision highlights the subjectivity and complexity of player scouting, where even the most promising talents may not align with a specific club’s vision or philosophy.