David Trezeguet, now 47, could have worn the FC Barcelona shirt. But fate, and a single phone call, had other plans. The legendary French striker, a World Cup winner in 1998, was close to joining Barça in 2004 before Juventus coach Fabio Capello stepped in at the very last moment.
Trezeguet himself recalled the story during the Festival dello Sport in Trento last weekend:
“In 2004 I had the chance to go to Barcelona. I got a call from Capello, who had just arrived at Juventus. He asked me, ‘Where are you going?’ I told him we were far from reaching an agreement with the club, but after his call, I decided to stay.”
That single conversation changed the course of his career – and potentially Barça’s.
Capello’s Faith Kept Trezeguet in Turin
Capello’s influence was decisive. The Italian manager was known for his charisma and leadership, and his words carried weight.
“He made me stay. He believed in me. I didn’t feel the need to leave Juventus. I was happy in Turin, in one of the world’s biggest clubs. Then came Vieira, Cannavaro, Emerson… The chance to win the Champions League felt very real,” Trezeguet explained to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
That Juventus team was indeed stacked with talent and ambition, but European glory slipped away.
The What-If That Still Haunts Barça Fans
Despite being one of the tournament favorites, Juventus fell in the quarter-finals of the 2004-05 Champions League against Liverpool. The same team that later lifted the trophy in the unforgettable Istanbul final against Milan.
Ironically, just one year later, FC Barcelona under Frank Rijkaard conquered Europe in Paris, defeating Arsenal 2-1 to win the 2006 Champions League. Had Trezeguet accepted Barça’s offer in 2004, he could have been part of that golden generation alongside Ronaldinho, Eto’o, Deco, and Puyol.
Instead, he remained loyal to Juventus and never lifted the Champions League trophy. A bittersweet “what if” that still lingers in football history.
A Missed Connection Between Two Great Stories
Trezeguet’s connection with Barça remains a fascinating “almost.” His technical finishing and intelligence in the box would have fit perfectly in Rijkaard’s dynamic, attack-minded side. For Barcelona fans, the idea of seeing Trezeguet in blaugrana remains one of those tantalizing football fantasies – one call away from becoming reality.
Discover more from Barça Buzz
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
