Bournemouth sensation admits he wanted to play for Barcelona – ‘I thought the quickest way…’
Justin Kluivert has spent years carving out his own path in football, but his ultimate goal remains the same—playing for Barcelona, just like his father, Patrick Kluivert.
The Dutch forward started his career at Ajax, following in the footsteps of many great talents, but instead of moving directly to a top club, he took a different route.
His transfer to AS Roma for over €17 million at just 19 years old was seen as a stepping stone, but things did not go as planned.
A journeyman
His time in Italy was marked by inconsistency, and he found himself bouncing from one loan spell to another. However, a temporary stint at Valencia proved to be a turning point.
In La Liga, Kluivert rediscovered his form and confidence, which led to a permanent move to Bournemouth.
Under manager Andoni Iraola, he has flourished in the Premier League, becoming a key figure for the English side with 12 goals and six assists in 28 league appearances.
Remembering old desires
Despite his success in England, Kluivert has not lost sight of his long-term ambition—wearing the Barcelona shirt.
During the ongoing international break, while preparing for the Netherlands’ Nations League quarterfinals against Spain, he openly discussed his career trajectory.
He admitted that his initial move to Roma was made with the hope that it would bring him closer to Barcelona. However, he has now come to understand that securing a place is far from straightforward.
“I thought it [joining Roma] would be the quickest way to get to Barcelona, but of course, it’s not that simple,” he admitted as quoted by MARCA.
Barcelona’s history is filled with second-generation talents following their legendary fathers, and Kluivert still dreams of adding his name to that list.
While his journey has taken unexpected turns, his rise in the Premier League shows that he is steadily growing into the kind of player who could one day attract Barcelona’s interest.
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