Barcelona twice rejected the opportunity to sign Paulo Dybala from Juventus during the summer despite the Old Lady’s willingness to do business, according to Spanish broadcaster La Sexta.

Dybala offered to Barça for 120 million euros

Full screen ALEJANDRO PAGNI (AFP)

La Sexta reports that a Barça vice-president met Dybala’s brother and representative on August 17 with a Juventus executive also involved via conference call during which the Camp Nou was informed that the Argentina international was interested in the move. A fee was even put forward: 120 million euros, with Juventus said to be happy to do business if it was met.

At that time Barça had not yet signed Ousmane Dembélé and had 222 million euros in their coffers after Neymar’s move to PSG. However, La Sexta claims that Barça sporting director Robert Fernández put the stoppers on the move as he felt that Dybala was not compatible with his Argentina teammate Leo Messi, preferring instead to concentrate the club’s efforts on Liverpool’s Brazil international Philippe Coutinho.

Barça held out for Coutinho to no effect

La Sexta also stated that with just two days left of the transfer window and with Liverpool giving no indication that they were willing to part with Coutinho, Dybala was again offered to the Camp Nou board by Juve, who met with a second negative response from Barcelona.