Liverpool winger Bradley Barcola has opened up about his high-profile £123m transfer from Paris Saint-Germain, addressing his adaptation to the Premier League, the weight of his transfer fee, and the expectations following Mohamed Salah’s departure from Anfield. In an interview with Sky Sports published on November 3, 2026, the French international discussed his slow start on Merseyside and his determination to carve out his own legacy.
Barcola arrived at Liverpool as a marquee attacking addition following a successful stint at PSG, where he won back-to-back European trophies. However, a difficult start saw him fail to register a goal or an assist in his first 10 matches across all competitions this season. Encouraging signs have since emerged, including a hat-trick in the Champions League against LASK and back-to-back assists in victories over Brighton and Brentford, though he drew a blank in a recent 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at Anfield.
Overcoming the Price Tag and Salah’s Shadow
Addressing the external pressure brought by his hefty transfer fee and the daunting task of filling the void left by club legend Mohamed Salah, Barcola insisted he feels unburdened by the comparisons.
“First of all, I wasn’t the one who decided the transfer fee, so that’s not been my problem,” Barcola told Sky Sports. “And regarding Mo Salah, he’s a legend here. A huge one. He’s done big things here and for that I have an enormous respect for him. But it’s not pressure for me at all. I’m not Mohamed Salah, so I’m going to try to contribute whatever I can to the club and make my own mark on its history. I don’t feel any pressure about that.”
The winger acknowledged that he is not yet operating at his peak performance. He emphasized that ongoing tactical adaptation alongside his teammates, including fellow high-value arrivals Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, will help unlock his full potential on the pitch.
Reasons for Leaving Paris Saint-Germain
Reflecting on his departure from the French capital, Barcola explained that the decision stemmed from a desire for a new challenge after playing a rotational role in Luis Enrique’s squad during major Champions League encounters. Despite winning multiple domestic and European honours with Les Parisiens, he felt it was the right moment to seek regular starting opportunities elsewhere.
“For me, it was the right time to leave PSG,” Barcola recalled to Sky Sports. “I spent so many great years there and I won an enormous amount of trophies. But it was time. It was quite difficult because, over there, it was a real family. We’d built something very special together.”
Team Ambitions and Next Fixtures
Liverpool face broader sporting questions following home defeats to Manchester City and Arsenal, which highlighted gaps between them and the Premier League elite. Despite a toothless attacking display against Arsenal where the Reds failed to register a shot on target, Barcola maintains that team objectives for the season remain unchanged.
“I don’t think it has changed the goals for the season,” Barcola said. “I think we should have done better in a game like this. We had the chances to score, even to win the match. I think we need to work on being able to control the game more and play more football.”
Liverpool return to action in the Champions League against Fenerbahce before facing Crystal Palace in domestic play, giving Barcola and his teammates immediate opportunities to reassert their consistency.