PSG play hardball over Bradley Barcola amid Barcelona interest

TL;DR

PSG is resisting offers for winger Bradley Barcola amid interest from Barcelona and Arsenal. The club aims to secure a contract renewal despite his limited playing time.

Key points

PSG is resisting offers for Bradley Barcola.
Barcelona and Arsenal are interested in signing him.
PSG aims to renew Barcola's contract.
Barcola has been productive but struggles for playing time.
Liverpool is also monitoring the situation.

Paris Saint-GermainFC BarcelonaArsenalLiverpool

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 11: Bradley Barcola of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 First Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Chelsea FC at Parc des Princes on March 11, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) | Getty Images The race for Bradley Barcola has shifted into a higher gear. FC Barcelona are just one of the teams interested; it’s becoming a crowded pack of heavyweights. While Sky Germany reports that Arsenal has already jumped the gun by opening talks with the winger’s representatives, Paris Saint-Germain isn’t exactly rolling out the red carpet for a departure. Instead, the word from France is that the club is actually looking to lock him down longer with a contract renewal. PSG’s public stance is one of total defense. They seem to view the current noise as a byproduct of having too much talent rather than a failure to integrate the 22-year-old. Diario SPORT reports that club sources said that “when we signed him from , nobody but us believed he would get this far.” It is a classic move to drive up the price or kill the narrative of a sale. The same sources admitted that rotation is a headache, noting, “We have four players so good that when one is left out, we are criticized… we understand his frustration, but these are the coach’s decisions.” But for Barça, that frustration is the opening they need. Sky Sports indicates the club is keeping a very close eye on the situation, seeing Barcola as the perfect option for the wings. He has the 1v1 spark the current squad sometimes lacks, especially if returns to . The irony is that Barcola has delivered whenever called upon, even helping sink in an UEFA Champions League semifinal. Yet, as L’Équipe put it, the winger currently seems “condemned to be the eternal 12th man” behind the likes of and . With 38 goals and 37 assists in his PSG career, he’s far too productive to be a permanent bench warmer. Barcelona’s interest is no secret in Europe’s sports pages. But the competition for the player is becoming a problem. Apart from Arsenal, are seen as highly interested.

Q&A

Why is PSG trying to renew Bradley Barcola's contract?

PSG views Barcola as a valuable asset and wants to secure him longer term despite the interest from other clubs.

Which clubs are interested in signing Bradley Barcola?

Barcelona, Arsenal, and Liverpool are among the clubs showing significant interest in Bradley Barcola.

What challenges does Bradley Barcola face at PSG?

Barcola struggles with limited playing time, often being seen as the 'eternal 12th man' behind other star players.