Inter Milan hero vs Barcelona was one step away from signing for the Blaugrana in the past | OneFootball

In a revelation made by SPORT, it has come to light that Barcelona were incredibly close to signing Yann Sommer in 2019, a deal that could have changed the club’s goalkeeping dynamics entirely.

At the time, Sommer, who now plays for Inter Milan and was recently named Man of the Match against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League semi-final, had agreed in principle to join the Catalan giants.

Yet, in a twist of fate, Barça chose Neto instead, leaving Sommer to continue his journey elsewhere.

Details of the event

The story dates back to the summer of 2019, when then-technical secretary Ramon Planes was actively negotiating Sommer’s arrival from Borussia Monchengladbach.

The plan was to sign the Swiss international as a reliable backup to Marc-Andre ter Stegen, with the transfer fee reportedly set at under €9 million.

Sommer had already given the green light, and everything seemed in place. His affordability, quality, and even fluency in Spanish made him an ideal fit for Barça’s dressing room.

Yann Sommer once came close to signing for Barcelona. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The move aligned with Jasper Cillessen’s desire to leave the club due to a lack of playing time behind Ter Stegen.

However, the club’s tight financial constraints meant the Sommer deal hinged on Cillessen’s sale. Barcelona had no budget allocated for a goalkeeper and were relying on a like-for-like transaction—sell one, use that money to buy another.

Why did the move fail?

But just as Sommer was on the brink of joining the Blaugrana, Cillessen’s transfer to the Premier League failed to materialise. With the Sommer deal stalling due to a lack of funds, Barça turned to another solution: a goalkeeper swap with Valencia.

Cillessen moved to Vlanecia, where he was guaranteed a starting role, and Neto arrived at the Camp Nou in return. It was a financially smart move for both clubs, giving each what they needed without additional spending.

Unfortunately for Sommer, the collapse of his Barcelona dream was complete. Despite being ready to accept a backup role and possessing the talent and adaptability for a smooth transition, he was left on the outside looking in.

Now, years later, that decision is particularly poignant given Sommer’s stellar performance against the very club that passed on him.