Cremonese director Ariedo Braida reveals he had tried to sign both Roma star Paulo Dybala and Nicolò Zaniolo for Barcelona, while he sees a ‘lack of competence’ at Chelsea.
Braida has now settled in Serie A with Cremonese, but for many years he was one of the key figures behind the scenes at Milan and then Barcelona.
With Roma coming to Cremona on Tuesday evening for a Serie A match, Braida spoke to Radio Romanista about some of the near misses he had with players who would go on to represent the Giallorossi.
“When I was still at Barcelona and Dybala was at Palermo, I wanted to sign him. I also met with him, as he wanted to come and see the Clasico against Real Madrid, but nothing came of it.
“Many thought he wasn’t ready for the step up, but in my view he was.”
Dybala left Palermo for Juventus in the summer of 2015 in a transfer worth €41m, but his contract with the Bianconeri was not renewed and he joined Roma this season for free.
However, it is reported that this contract also has a release clause set at just €20m.
Meanwhile, after Zaniolo moved on to Galatasaray in the January window, Braida confessed that he had targeted the Italy international too.
“When he was at Virtus Entella, he had an agent that I met with when I was living in Barcelona. I was interested in him, but nothing came of it.”
Zaniolo was at Virtus Entella only in the 2016-17 season, so before his move to the Inter youth academy and then on to Roma in 2018.
Looking back over his very long career, Braida insists he has no regrets about the transfers he has made.
“Football is not a mathematical certainty, you can get things wrong. For example, Chelsea spent €350m on the transfer market, they are in 10th place and now there are reports the coach could be sacked.
“Money is important, but you need competence too, knowing how to spend it. In so many situations nowadays, I see a lack of competence.”