So close to saying goodbye — Jules Koundé nearly left Barça before his journey even began. What a crazy summer that turned out to be.

In the summer of 2022, Jules Koundé’s move to FC Barcelona nearly turned into a transfer that never was. Although now he is an established part of the club’s defense, things were on the brink of falling apart before they even got started.

 

After rejecting Chelsea and opting to join Barcelona — a move seen by many as both bold and admirable — Koundé faced a highly stressful and uncertain situation that nearly derailed everything.

 

Barcelona was battling serious financial issues at the time, along with strict player registration rules imposed by La Liga.

 

Because of these challenges, the club couldn’t immediately register Koundé as part of the official squad.

 

While the rest of the team began their season on the field, Koundé was stuck on the sidelines — fully fit, mentally prepared, but legally unable to play. His dream move was quickly turning into a frustrating standoff.

 

As the weeks passed without resolution, tension grew. Koundé, eager to play and concerned about his career, reportedly began to reconsider his decision.

 

According to reports from that time, he was dangerously close to leaving — just a single phone call to his agent could have ended his time at Barcelona before it even started.

 

Had that call been made, the entire trajectory of his career — and Barça’s defensive future — might have shifted.

 

Fortunately, Barcelona acted just in time. By offloading enough wages to meet La Liga’s requirements, the club was able to register Koundé.

 

That breakthrough allowed him to finally take the pitch and prove his value. His impact was immediate and lasting.

 

In the following season, he became a crucial player in the squad and helped Barcelona clinch the La Liga title.

 

Reflecting on those chaotic weeks, it’s almost surreal to imagine how close everything came to collapsing.

 

A few more days of delay or a moment of frustration might have seen Koundé walk away.

 

It’s a powerful reminder of how delicate football careers can be — often resting on decisions made in moments of pressure and uncertainty.

 

• Koundé’s Barça journey serves as a vivid example of how the finest margins can shape football history. In 2022, his dream nearly ended before it began — but in the end, the story took a very different path.