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 and Ajax.
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.”
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