Barcelona spoke to possible replacement in case Semedo left for PSG - report

Photo credit should read CRISTINA QUICLER/AFP/Getty Images

The potential replacement would have been Emerson

FC Barcelona got in touch with Emerson in case Nélson Semedo left for Paris Saint-Germain in the last summer transfer window, according to a report by Mundo Deportivo.

Semedo was said to be off the table in the Neymar deal according to earlier reports, but this rumor suggests it may not have been entirely the case. Barça were perhaps not keen to part with Semedo, but it seems they wanted to have Emerson ready just in case.

Emerson plays for Real Betis but is considered a loanee from Barcelona.

The 20-year-old right-back came from Atlético Mineiro to La Liga, where he completed one half of a season with Betis. He has also been called up to Brazil at youth level.

The report says no other player was contacted as a possible replacement, for two reasons. One, because there was not going to be enough money in the budget to get someone else. Second, because the team considers Emerson capable enough to take over.

There was contact at least twice, it is said, and Betis knew about it. In the end, Semedo was not included because Barcelona did not accept the idea of making him a part of the Neymar deal, according to the report. However, it seems they were anticipating they might want an option and to have a backup ready just in case.

Source: barcablaugranes.com