Former Barcelona forward opens up on failed stint: “Valverde never wanted me”

 Speaking in an interview with Toni Juanmarti, former Barcelona forward Malcom has reflected on his disappointing stint at Spotify Camp Nou.

The Brazilian attacker signed for Barcelona from Bordeaux in the summer of 2018, with the Catalans swooping him away from under the noses of Italian giants AS Roma.

However, Malcom never really got going at Camp Nou as he struggled to get going under then-manager Ernesto Valverde.

Opening up on why things did not click for him at Barça, Malcom has now claimed that he was never given a proper chance by Valverde, who wanted to sign Willian instead of him that summer.

“You can’t please everyone. Valverde never wanted me, because he had asked for Willian since the beginning. He didn’t let me show that I could deliver,” Malcom said.

The 26-year-old, who now plays for Russian outfit Zenit St. Petersburg, further added: “Valverde gave me few minutes and I had to accept that and keep working. At Anfield, he brought me on in the 80th minute when we were already 4-0 down. I wasn’t his bet, Willian was, but I had to pay for it.”

During his time at Barcelona, Malcom got to play in just one El Clasico against Real Madrid – a 1-1 draw in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg at Camp Nou – in which he scored. Reflecting on that moment, he said:

“How could I forget that? Playing in a Clasico is something special, unique. A Barça-Madrid is something different. They are the two biggest teams in the world.”

And while he had hoped that the Clasico goal would turn things around for him, it did not happen.

“El Clasico, where I scored a goal, I thought that game would change everything for me, that I would have more chances. But nothing changed. I had to leave. I wanted a chance and I wanted to take it. I think I deserved more, they always gave me 5-10 minutes. I tried.”

Despite being regarded as a flop during his time at Camp Nou, Malcom admitted that he would sign for Barcelona again if he had a chance to go back in time and change things.

“Absolutely! I fulfilled my dream, I played with the best in the world. I felt very loved by the fans, they always supported me,” the 26-year-old said.

When asked if he still follows Barça, Malcom replied: “Of course I do. I watch the games on television and I’m sure I’ll always support the team. Now we are very close to winning La Liga and hopefully, we can do it soon.”

On the possibility of Lionel Messi returning to Barcelona in the summer, he said: “It would be normal for him to return. Leo spent his whole life there and it would be nice for the fans and for everyone. I hope he comes back.

“I always wish Leo the best, it was an honour to have him around and to see how everything he does comes naturally to him. He is an idol on and off the pitch.”