Barcola Youth Coach: At 15 or 16, His Dream Was to Play for Liverpool

According to The Guardian, Liverpool signed Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain for £123 million this summer. The French forward was not a player who broke through at a very early age, but his direct running, off-ball movement and ability to exploit space in transitions are considered highly suitable for Liverpool's current needs.

One of Barcola's youth coaches, Amaury Ballet, revealed that Barcola often talked about Liverpool when he was young. “When he was 15 or 16, his dream was to play for Liverpool.” Therefore, when Liverpool made a real offer, Barcola had almost no hesitation.

Barcola came through Lyon's academy before spending three seasons at Paris Saint-Germain. Although his PSG contract originally ran until 2028, he gradually lost his starting role in the biggest matches as competition among the club's forwards intensified.

After Khvicha Kvaratskhelia joined Paris in January 2025, Barcola's situation was further affected. Because his performances on the right and in central areas were less consistent than on the left, he struggled to earn starting opportunities in some important matches.

In last season's Champions League, Barcola started from the group stage through the second leg of the round of 16 against Chelsea, but later gradually became a substitute. Although he appeared in the last two Champions League finals, both appearances came from the bench.

However, Barcola has already proven that he can perform on the biggest stage. At the latest World Cup, he scored three goals for France, and he currently has six goals in his entire international career, meaning half of them came at that tournament.

His World Cup performances further increased his market value. PSG ultimately gained nearly €100 million in capital profit from selling Barcola, making him the most expensive sale in Paris's history, surpassing Neymar's €90 million move to Al Hilal.

During this summer window, PSG earned around €350 million from player sales, setting a Ligue 1 record for income from player departures in a single summer window. Barcola's transfer was an important part of that total.

Although Barcola strongly wanted to join Liverpool, he did not publicly pressure PSG to let him leave. It is understood that he was not included in PSG's early-season squad lists not as a punishment, but because the club wanted to protect the player during transfer negotiations.

Barcola was also popular in the PSG dressing room. When he left, many former teammates sent him messages of support on social media, and the club also maintained a friendly attitude toward his departure.

Ballet said Barcola's family environment played a major role in his development. “What his parents said and what we coaches said were always consistent. I know his family, and he had a family and surrounding environment that were very suitable for a young player to grow.”

Barcola's brother Malcolm is also a professional player and currently plays as a goalkeeper for Moroccan club Ittihad Tanger. Unlike many talents who enter first-team football very early, Barcola's development actually progressed at a slower pace.

He did not make his first-team debut until he was 19, while Rayan Cherki had already represented Lyon's senior team at the age of 16.

Ballet recalled that Barcola was very thin when he was young and had not fully matured physically, so the club did not rush him into playing above his age group. “We were always waiting for his physical condition to develop.”

This physical late development also shaped Barcola's style of play. Because he often faced stronger defenders during his youth years, he became accustomed to finding space by making early runs and attacking the area behind defenders.

Ballet said: “He used to be offside often because he always wanted to run behind defenders early. He has always had a strong habit of attacking the space behind the defensive line.”

Barcola was not originally a winger. Ballet said he was more like a penalty-area opportunistic striker when he was young. “He could score all kinds of goals, volleys, pokes, with his left foot or right foot. Only his heading was not especially outstanding.”

Once he entered professional football, Barcola improved very quickly. He made his Lyon first-team debut midway through the 2021-22 season, and after only one full season, PSG were willing to pay €45 million for him.

Barcola's best individual statistical season was 2024-25, when he scored 21 goals and provided 21 assists in all competitions.

However, his finishing and attacking efficiency have also been criticised. In a Champions League match against Newcastle in November 2023, he missed several chances, and one French commentator even called him a “little lamb”.

Barcola himself rarely pays attention to such comments. In an earlier interview with Le Parisien, he said: “I don't know exactly what people have said about me, but I know there will always be criticism. I don't care at all, whether they say something good or bad.”

The people who can truly influence him are a small number of close friends. “I have very few friends. So if they tell me I did something stupid, it is usually because they are right. If they say I played well, that is also true. I don't listen to outside voices.”

Ballet also mentioned that Barcola was very close with Castello Lukeba and Billy Koumetio during his youth years, describing him as an “ideal teammate.”

“He is very loyal. When he lost games as a young player, he would even have tears in his eyes, but he would not criticise teammates. He was more angry with himself because he is a player with genuine competitive desire.”

For the now 24-year-old Barcola, the next task is to quickly win recognition from Liverpool supporters. His £123 million price tag, combined with the team's ordinary start to the season under Andoni Iraola, means he will face considerable pressure.

But from a technical perspective, The Guardian believes Barcola may be exactly the player Liverpool currently need.

Luis Enrique previously described Barcola as “one of the best dribblers in Europe.” As Premier League football increasingly emphasises the use of space during transitions, this is precisely the environment in which Barcola excels.

Liverpool have recently faced difficulties against deep defensive blocks, but once matches enter open spaces and transition phases, Barcola's speed, ball-carrying ability and ability to attack the space behind defenders can provide great value.

Iraola has said he wants his wingers to be “players who can change games.” For Barcola, who finally has the opportunity to take on a key role, this is the moment to prove himself.