River Plate coach Marcelo Gallardo has admitted he came close to taking the Barcelona job.
Gallardo revealed an offer from Barca to good friend Mariano Juan, once of River Plate and Ajax.
Like Gallardo, Juan enjoyed a successful career in Europe, playing not only for Ajax, but also in Spain with Getafe, Toledo and Leganes.
It was with River Plate where Juan became close to Gallardo and the pair have remained good friends. And he has confirmed press speculation that Barcelona were keen on hiring Gallardo last year.
As Juan states, the approach was made by former Barca sporting director Eric Abidal before Christmas 2019 as the former board planned to remove Ernesto Valverde.
Quoted by Le 10 Sport, Juan told TyC Sports: "He was a few hours away from being Barcelona coach. After playing against Flamengo (in the Copa Libertadores final in November 2019), he spoke with (Eric) Abidal by phone.
"And Gallardo has explained that if he starts the preseason with River, he won't be going to Barcelona. In the meantime (Ernesto) Valverde won matches and his departure was delayed because the club were not going to kick him out.
"The chosen one was him. Abidal was Gallardo's teammate in France (in Monaco) and that's why he called him. I'm his friend and I often bite my tongue, I say this because it's out now."
Barca eventually dumped Valverde and replaced him with Quique Setien.
Gallardo has been in charge of River Plate since 2014, twice winning the Copa Libertadores.
- updated February 23
