PSG: behind the scenes of Bradley Barcola’s lightning adaptation

A shooting star. Almost a year ago, Bradley Barcola’s career could have taken a different direction. That of Switzerland. Lacking playing time at Olympique Lyonnais during the first part of the season, the Frenchman, who had only appeared 7 times before returning to the reserves in October 2022, was no longer satisfied with his situation. To play and progress, the native of Villeurbanne was therefore ready to join Saint-Gall after a final appearance in the Lyon jersey on January 1, 2023 during the L1 match against Clermont (1 minute played). But everything changed in the following days.

His destiny changed very quickly

Starting for the first time this season against FC Metz in the Coupe de France, he responded by scoring a goal (2-1 victory) and points in the eyes of Laurent Blanc, who is not, however, the coach who loves throwing young players the most. Then, the destiny of Bradley Barcola was definitively changed on January 14, 2023. A kick from Karl Toko-Ekambi into a trash can changed his fate. Taken by several OL supporters, KTE, who joined Rennes shortly after, made an angry gesture during his replacement against Strasbourg. The French Espoirs international came on in his place in the 58th minute of play. And he never left the starting eleven after that.

The arrivals of Jeffinho and Amin Sarr in the winter transfer window did not change the situation for Barcola, who was able to seize his chance and confirm the hopes placed in him within the training center. Very quickly, he became an essential element of the Rhone team, alongside Alexandre Lacazette with whom the alchemy was perfect. Result: he finished the previous year with a great record of 7 goals and 9 assists in 31 appearances, including 20 as a starter. This did not escape RB Leipzig, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, where the newly appointed Luis Enrique fell in love with him.

He was not disturbed by his transfer window

OL, who did not offer him a contract extension, closed the door to a departure before finally opening it. The rather shaky explanations from management, embodied at the time by the short-lived Santiago Cucci, were not convincing. If Lyon, which had problems with the DNCG, did not want to sell him, they simply had to refuse PSG’s offer. But it was accepted on August 31 and €45 million, to which could be added €5 million in bonuses, entered the club’s coffers. The end of a long series during which the player was not spared by his management and certain Lyon supporters. But this episode did not disturb the main party that much, we were told.

Indeed, Bradley Barcola has remained true to himself and to the line of conduct he has followed since the start of his career, namely to work enormously and always try to be ready when an opportunity presents itself to him. He therefore studied the Saint Gallen option last winter before finally staying. Same thing when the summer transfer window arrived and many clubs looked into his case. If some could have lost their means, the footballer born in 2002 experienced the transfer window well and was not troubled by all the agitation around him according to close sources. Represented for several months by the famous Jorge Mendes, he took the time to think before choosing.

An assumed choice

He told himself that the train taking him to Paris might not pass again and he decided to follow his career plan. We can’t completely blame him. In the process, the winger had to cut the cord with OL. But not too quickly since he played his first minutes in the Parisian jersey at Groupama Stadium on September 3 (4-1 victory). Coming into play a good quarter of an hour, the player, who assured that he was ready to play on his first day in Paris, was booed and whistled by almost an entire stadium. A delicate moment for the footballer, who managed to ignore it. He knew full well that he would not be greeted with applause and that the context would be difficult.

Besides, he was prepared for it and was not affected. On the other hand, it was a little more so for his parents who were present that evening at the stadium and who heard the insults and other sweet words from Lyon fans. It’s more for them that the player was saddened that evening. But that’s ancient history. Now, Barcola is writing a new chapter in his career in the capital. Substitute at the start, he was able to gain playing time before finding a place in Luis Enrique’s eleven (11 starts in 19 matches in all competitions, 2 goals and 3 assists). The latter has also started him in the last 7 matches in which he has participated.

His new life in Paris

Enough to give confidence to the player, who feels that his coach really wanted it. All this allows him to adapt better. But it’s not just Luis Enrique who helps him. Since his arrival at PSG, he has been able to count on the support of his teammates, including Warren Zaire-Emery and Ethan Mbappé, with whom he gets along very well. Same thing with the offensive leaders Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé. They did not hesitate to go towards Barcola, who is quite shy by nature. But he talks a lot with the two 2018 world champions, just like the other members of the team, according to our reports. As at OL, where he has always been attentive to the words of Alexandre Lacazette, he is attentive in the Parisian locker room, where he is progressing alongside talented and experienced players.

Everything therefore seems to be working for Bradley Barcola, whose feelings on and off the field are very positive, we have been told. This is also the case in his new Parisian life. The 21-year-old found a house quite close to the training center where he lives alone although his family visits him regularly. He takes advantage of his free time to do physical work with the help of a trainer. Moreover, he set up a gym in the basement of his home to give himself every chance of achieving this. But where exactly?

A more anticipated and publicized footballer

He does not have a priority objective, since he does not close any doors and wants to win everything with the French champions. But he keeps his head on his shoulders and his feet on the ground. To get there, those who live a dream by playing in the Champions League work hard to always be ready to respond to all requests. The recipe for its success ultimately. But he is young and still needs to improve on certain points such as finishing. Some didn’t miss it a few weeks ago during the clash against Newcastle in the Champions League (1-1). Coming into play, he had several chances but had failed in the last gesture. Despite the criticism, he made do with it, he who basically doesn’t really look at what can be said about him in the media.

In Paris, he entered another dimension. His performances are dissected, analyzed and commented on. The young man must deal with this new situation. But he is lucid about his performances, knows what he does well and what not so well, we were told. So he has enough confidence in himself to know that he missed the finish but also brought it with his entry since Paris wasn’t really dangerous before that. Bradley Barcola advances without pressure, but knows he is eagerly awaited since he plays in the position of a certain Kylian Mbappé. A player who attracts a lot of media attention. But Bradley Barcola is increasingly solicited by the press. For the moment, apart from a few statements in the mixed zone or on the club media, he remains discreet, he who prefers to speak on the football fields. A language that he masters rather well!