Al Khelaifi: Barcelona/PSG War Can Escalate

 

One of Spain's biggest clubs - Barcelona - are no strangers to the complications that have arisen in the transfer market since Paris Saint-Germain's emergence as a competitor for the world's best players.

Not only have the Parisians stood in the way of Spain's Clasico in direct negotiations for transfers, but this summer they're set to snatch Georginio Wijnaldum from Barcelona's grasp just as the Dutchman looked as though he was moving to the Camp Nou on a free transfer.

Barcelona's past

If Wijnaldum is to complete a move to the Parc des Princes over the Camp Nou, it will just be the latest chapter in a sour relationship between Barcelona and PSG.

Italy midfielder Marco Verratti was originally the man at the centre of drawn out talks between the two, with Barcelona having been desperate to sign him when they still boasted Europe's best attack of the MSN. It wasn't to happen though, even with Verratti himself keen to make the move.

If anything, those talks only sparked a backlash from PSG. A year later they came knocking with a world record transfer fee to sign Neymar for over 220 million euros. The Brazilian left for Paris and neither club - PSG for better and Barcelona for worse - have been the same since.