David Ginola has revealed his frustration at being denied a dream move to Barcelona while at Newcastle United, claiming the club 'stabbed him in the back'. The French winger was a target for Barcelona boss Bobby Robson in 1996 after a successful debut season in English football.
Ginola told The Athletic that Robson personally called him to express interest, with Barcelona increasing their bid from £6 million to £12 million. However, Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan refused to let him go, despite Ginola's pleas that it was his last chance to play for a club that would win trophies annually.
“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. When it didn't happen again, I had to go back,” Ginola said.
The 58-year-old also recalled an earlier opportunity to join Barcelona in 1994, when then-manager Johan Cruyff, his childhood idol, invited him to a golf tournament and expressed a desire to sign him. However, the deal fell through as Cruyff could not offload other players.
Ginola eventually joined Newcastle after being contacted by assistant Terry McDermott, turning down a late approach from Arsenal. He felt betrayed when Keegan left the club in January 1997, saying: “And then when Keegan left us that January, he left me, too. I felt stabbed in the back.”
