In May, Xavier Mbuyamba’s agent Carlos Barros gave an interview to Voetbal International and claimed Chelsea had the ‘best credentials’ to complete the 17-year-old’s signing.
The Blues failed to sign the youngster because of the transfer ban imposed on them by FIFA.
The defender was at second division Dutch side MVV Maastricht last season and despite attracting interest from Celtic, Liverpool, FC Porto and Bayern Munich, he ended up joining Barcelona in August.
Mbuyamba was picked up for the Netherlands U19 squad for this month’s international break and this allowed him to give an interview to the local media.
Speaking to Fox Sports, the teenager explained how close he came to joining the Europa League winners.
Mbuyamba would have been at Chelsea if not for their transfer ban. He is currently featuring for Barcelona’s youth team, but the centre-back has his eyes set on representing the La Liga winners’ first team in the near future.
“I live on the La Masia training complex, with eighty other boys: soccer players, basketball players, handball players… It is going well, I have found my way, I train well and I play well,” he explained.
“I can play in Barça B for another three years after this season. But I hope to go to the first as soon as possible.”
