Alphonso Davies, who is now a star at Bayern Munich, claims Barcelona once opted against signing him “because I was Canadian”.
The fleet-footed left-back has been catching the eye in European football since completing a record-setting transfer to the Allianz Arena from MLS side the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2019.
La Liga giants Barca had the option of beating Bayern to his signature, with his obvious potential being spotted early, but Davies says the Catalan giants had concerns over his nationality.
Ghana-born Davies has told the Say Less podcast: “Barcelona actually reached out but the president said they didn’t want me.
“They said they didn’t want me because I was Canadian. I’m not gonna lie that kind of crushed my feelings a little bit.”
Davies acknowledges that he is just basing that conclusion on media accounts rather than having spoken to anyone at Barca, but his achievements in Germany have dispelled any sceptics, even if he does occasionally feel lonely being so far away from home.
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He added: “Life as a professional footballer is very cool, no doubt. You can chill and enjoy life, but, after training, there’s nothing to do.
“For me, because I don’t have a family and my girlfriend is not living with me, I’m by myself.
“It’s a little bit worrying not having something to do and especially when all your friends have work. I probably have like five friends. I’m a popular loser”.