Malcom Reportedly Regrets Barcelona Transfer, Wants to Join Roma
November 2, 2018
Barcelona forward Malcom reportedly has regrets about joining the club in the summer and is keen on moving to Roma, whom he came close to signing for ahead of the campaign.
The Serie A side announced they had reached an agreement with Bordeaux for the Brazilian in the previous transfer window, only for Barcelona to swoop in and secure a deal at the last minute.
Given his lack of action at the Camp Nou, according to Corriere dello Sport (h/t Sport), Malcom laments moving to the La Liga club and has made it clear he would be open to joining Roma if the opportunity were to arise.
According to Sport, a move to Roma would be tough to broker, as the 21-year-old's decision to pull out of a switch to the Italian capital last minute has prompted some tension between the two clubs.
Barcelona are also said to be against selling the player so soon after he joined, but it's suggested that Malcom may move elsewhere on loan.
With Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele all fighting for spots in the Barca attack, it was never going to be easy for Malcom to force his way into the team on a consistent basis. But he would have anticipated more minutes than the 25 he has amassed in La Liga.
On Saturday against Rayo Vallecano, he won't be adding to that, as he was left out of the matchday squad entirely:
Manager Ernesto Valverde commented on the winger's omission from the travelling party:
Malcom made his first start for the club on Wednesday, featuring for 80 minutes in the 1-0 Copa del Rey win over Cultural Leonesa.
Despite the incessant speculation surrounding his future, the Brazilian posted on Instagram that he was ready to "keep fighting" for a spot in the side and said his family have settled in the area already, per Guy Atkinson of Goal.
What will be frustrating for Malcom is the fact that the 2017-18 season was a breakout campaign for him, as he was one of the most exciting layers in Ligue 1. He dazzled on the right flank for Bordeaux, beating opposition defenders with skill and speed while also showcasing tremendous potency from distance.
He became renowned for producing special moments during his time in France:
While Barcelona are top of the table and playing well, Malcom has not been given a chance to showcase his ability. He will be hoping things change dramatically before the January transfer window.
If they don't and a team of Roma's calibre does come in, it would leave the Brazilian with a big decision to make. After all, he has the ability to go elsewhere, get regular game time and have a positive impact on a winning team.