Désiré Doué, the talent of the PSG that Deco wanted for Barça: what prevented his signing?

The sports management of FC Barcelona, prior to the start of the 2024-25 season, had a clear premise in mind: they had to secure the services of a stellar left winger, a player whose characteristics fit the profile of a fast, skillful, cheeky, goal-scoring, and highly associative forward, in order to make the most of the left wing, which has long lacked a natural player for that position.

The name that seemed to have been chosen was that of Nico Williams from Athletic Club. However, it was not the only option on FC Barcelona's agenda to strengthen the left wing. In fact, the club's sports management was not only evaluating prominent names with experience in football's elite such as Luis Díaz from Liverpool or Rafael Leão from AC Milan, but also considering more modest alternatives with interesting potential.

Deco liked the signing of Désiré Doué to strengthen the left wing for Barça

According to reports on 'SPORT', one of the players that Deco liked was Désiré Doué, who at that time belonged to Stade Rennais. At just 19 years old, he was already making a name for himself, with interesting numbers that, combined with available reports, made him an attractive addition to consider.

However, his high economic cost made it prohibitively expensive for FC Barcelona to secure his signing. At that time, the Catalan team did not have many options to make a competitive offer for the young French forward.

This is how FC Barcelona missed the opportunity to sign Désiré Doué, who ended up being signed by Paris Saint-Germain for a substantial amount of 50 million euros. This acquisition by the Parisian team has proven to be a total success for Luis Enrique, who has maximized the qualities of the Angers native, using his versatility to make him a key player in the offensive front, performing as a winger on both sides, as an attacking midfielder, and even as a center forward on occasion.

Time has ultimately justified Deco's belief in Désiré Doué's talent

Dubbed the 'new Neymar,' Désiré Doué has shown a notable consistency at PSG, accumulating seven goals and 11 assists in 39 matches, showcasing his ability to outshine his opponents, adding a touch of flair to PSG's attack. He is a player who dazzles with his remarkable technical skills and tends to be lethal in one-on-one situations, becoming the most disruptive player in the final third of the field and a standout on whom many are now focusing as one of the key figures in Luis Enrique's sporting project at the French club.

This only confirms that Deco's bet on the player was well-founded, as, comparing profiles, Désiré Doué plays a role quite similar to that of Lamine Yamal at FC Barcelona, being players whose audacity, creativity, and skill are capable of bewildering the opposing defense. A player that Barça valued, but whose situation regarding financial fair play excluded him from the competition.