Jean-Michel Aulas has rubbished the reports claiming that Memphis Depay’s transfer to Barcelona this summer is imminent.
Memphis Depay emerged as a rather surprise target for FC Barcelona shortly after Ronald Koeman took the office at Camp Nou.
Koeman, with the aim of a squad overhaul, reportedly deemed a handful of players surplus to his requirements, one of which was Luis Suarez. And he saw Depay, whom he knows well from his international career, as an ideal replacement for Suarez.
Dutch newspaper Telegraaf went as far as to claim that Barca have agreed to match Lyon’s €30 million asking price for the 26-year old attacker and that the transfer will be made official this week.
However, Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has invalidated that report saying that Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu personally told him that the club were in no condition to make an offer.
Aulas wrote in a Twitter post: “President Bartomeu told me on Sunday that Barca are suffering a lot from the COVID crisis and that it isn’t possible for them to make an offer.”
Lyon sporting director Juninho also previously confirmed that the club has received no bids for any of their star players.
Additionally, Barca boss Koeman himself earlier insisted that the club must cash in on some of their existing players before recruiting new ones.
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