Barcelona Shockingly Called 'Bogus' By Loanee After Botched Promises

KEY POINTS

Barcelona loanee Jean-Clair Todibo opens up about his time with the Catalans
Todibo claims Barca didn't honor its promises to him
The French defender could become a permanent player as part of Nice if he manages to deliver

A Barcelona loanee is not having a great time at Camp Nou.

Unlike Pedri, Ansu Fati, Ilaix Moriba and other Barcelona youngsters, Jean-Clair Todibo has failed to make his mark in the famed club’s senior team.

Todibo has been sent out on loan several times after two seasons with Barcelona due to lack of impact to the team. However, the French defender has a different story to tell.

According to Todibo, who arrived at Camp Nou in 2018, Barcelona's top brass made him a lot of promises at the time, including replacing Gerard Pique. However, none of it came to fruition, prompting the 21-year-old to express his disappointment.

“The presentation at Barcelona, it’s madness, but I only played five games, it’s bogus in real life,” Todibo recently told Spanish publication L’Equipe. “I won a La Liga (in 2019), but I didn’t help the team, I played when we had won the title!”

“[Eric] Abidal saw me as [Gerard] Piqué’s replacement,” he added. “I played two games, then Valverde told me that I was the fourth defender but that I was going to have to prove in the preseason. Umtiti got hurt. I did the right thing, but I am not given my chance.”

“I’m not asking to play the Clásico, but make me play matches, I think I have the level to play against Leganés, with all the respect I have for them. I waited 2 months to play against Inter Milan and I understood that I had to leave.”

Filled with rage, Todibo even fumed that he would rather take his talents elsewhere than be benched at Barcelona.

“It sucks to go to Barcelona and not play,” the La Liga champion exclaimed. “I would rather wear the CS Sedan Ardennes shirt and play than go to Barcelona and not play. Already you suffer less criticism at Sedan.”

Todibo was first loaned out by Barcelona to Bundesliga side Schalke 04 where he played eight matches. He then continued his spell at Benfica earlier this season but was quickly moved to Ligue 1's Nice.

Should Todibo manages to impress, Nice could make him a permanent player as his contract includes a purchase option set at €8.5 million ($10 million), plus €7 million ($8.2 million) in variables.

Prior to joining the Barcelona team that won the 2019 La Liga season, Todibo played 10 matches for Ligue 1 side Toulouse where he registered one goal to his name.