David Ginola has opened up on the moment Newcastle “stabbed him in the back” by blocking his dream move to Barcelona .
The French winger was at the peak of his powers under Kevin Keegan in the mid 90s, tormenting Premier League defences with his silky skills. But when Sir Bobby Robson came calling for Barcelona, his world fell apart.
THE CRUYFF CONNECTION
This wasn’t the first time Barca had tried. Years earlier, when Ginola was tearing it up for PSG, Johan Cruyff himself made a move.
“I was invited by Johan Cruyff, Barcelona’s manager, to a golf tournament in Tarragona, Spain, and he told me he wanted to sign me,” Ginola told The Athletic in 2020.
“Cruyff was my idol. His was the only poster I had on my bedroom wall as a kid. He was sitting opposite me saying, ‘You remind me of me, when I was playing.’ That was one of the biggest compliments of my career.”
The deal was done. Ginola’s future was in Catalonia. Then it fell apart.
THE NEWCASTLE BETRAYAL
Fast forward to 1996. Ginola had just helped Newcastle push Manchester United all the way in the title race. Sir Bobby Robson, now at Barcelona, wanted him again.
“I was back in the south of France on holiday, sad because we lost the title, but not expecting anything else,” Ginola recalled.
“When the phone rang, and it was Sir Bobby, saying he wanted me, that they were going to make an offer. They started at £6m and went up to £12m, until Keegan called me and said it didn’t matter how much they bid, Newcastle wouldn’t let me go.”
Ginola pleaded: “I said to him, ‘You have to. This is my last chance to play for Barcelona, a club which will be winning trophies every year.’ It was no disrespect to Newcastle, but a career is so short.”
Keegan refused. The dream died.
THE AFTERMATH
“When it didn’t happen again, I had to go back. And then when Keegan left us that January, he left me, too. I felt stabbed in the back.”
Ginola fell out with Keegan’s replacement, Sir Kenny Dalglish, and eventually left for Tottenham. He never got his Barcelona move.
THE CONTEXT
All this comes as Newcastle prepare to face Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Wednesday in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie . The scores are level at 1-1.
For Ginola, watching from afar, there’s a bittersweet feeling. The club that denied him his dream is now living his dream facing Barcelona on the biggest stage.
But the scar remains. Thirty years on, he still feels the sting of what might have been.