Remembering the drama of 2022: Jules Koundé was just one phone call away from leaving FC Barcelona.
It’s almost hard to believe now, but rewind to the summer of 2022 and Koundé’s dream move to Barcelona was hanging by a thread. After snubbing Chelsea and choosing to join Barça — a decision many praised as brave — Koundé suddenly found himself in an unexpected nightmare.
Due to the club’s financial struggles and La Liga’s registration rules, Barça couldn’t immediately register him as a first-team player. While his teammates were already playing, Koundé watched from the sidelines — fit, ready, but unable to step on the pitch.
Frustration began to mount. The situation dragged on for weeks, and Koundé reportedly began to question his decision. Sources at the time claimed he was this close to walking away — just one phone call away from telling his agent to find a new club. One call, and the story could’ve been completely different.
But in true Barça fashion, a last-minute effort saved the day. The club managed to offload some salaries and finally registered him in time. The rest is history — Koundé became a key figure in the team’s backline, helping Barça win La Liga the very next season.
Looking back, it’s wild to think how one delay, one more day, or one frustrated phone call could have erased his Barça chapter before it even began.
Football really is a game of fine margins — and in 2022, Jules Koundé’s Barça story nearly ended before it started.
