Former FC Barcelona defender Jean-Clair Todibo has criticized the club and his ex-colleagues for the cold treatment he received during his time in Catalonia. Todibo arrived at Camp Nou from Toulouse in January 2019 but struggled to make an impact, only making five appearances in all competitions during the era of Lionel Messi. After a loan spell at Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga, where he was voted Player of the Month by fans, the German club did not exercise their option to purchase him for €25 million.
In October 2020, Todibo was loaned to Benfica but once again, the club did not opt to make his move permanent for €20 million. However, the center-back found success with a loan spell at Nice in February 2021, with the move becoming permanent in June of that year for a fee of €8.5 million. Now, Todibo is regarded as one of Europe’s best young defenders and is attracting interest from top clubs. It is expected that he will move on in the upcoming transfer window, with the Premier League being a likely destination. Barcelona stands to receive 10% of any significant sale to an English club.
Reflecting on his time at Barcelona, Todibo admitted that he was not prepared when he arrived at the club and felt isolated. Despite being labeled as Gerard Pique’s replacement, he was given limited opportunities to prove himself. Todibo claimed that nobody at the club wanted to communicate with him, except for former Sporting Director Eric Abidal. However, Todibo acknowledged that he learned a lot from training and playing alongside great players such as Messi, Pique, Luis Suarez, and Sergio Busquets.
Despite his negative experiences at Barcelona, Todibo believes that he gained valuable experience from his time at the club and training with top players. He expressed frustration at the lack of communication and support he received during his time in Catalonia. Todibo’s career has seen ups and downs, with unsuccessful loan spells at Schalke 04 and Benfica before finding success at Nice. Now, he is regarded as one of Europe’s best young defenders and is expected to secure a move to a top club in the upcoming transfer window.
As Todibo looks forward to his next career move, it is clear that he has matured as a player and learned from his experiences at Barcelona. Despite facing challenges and setbacks, he has emerged as a formidable talent in European football. With interest from top clubs and a potential move to the Premier League on the horizon, Todibo is poised to take the next step in his career. Barcelona may benefit financially from his success, as they stand to receive a percentage of any significant transfer fee earned from his move to an English club.
