“Everything was ready for me to sign for Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona, but when he said he might be leaving, I joined Inter instead” Youri Djorkaeff on why he turned down the chance to work under his idol
In 1996, Youri Djorkaeff had established himself as one of European football’s best midfielders.
After being a pivotal part of Paris Saint-Germain’s UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup victory, he had a decision to make as two of his big-name European suitors battled for his transfer.
Over in Spain, Barcelona were one of the continent’s best sides, with revolutionary boss Johan Cruyff keen to add the France international to his all-star squad. However, one conversation would change everything.
Djorkaeff on chosing Inter over Cruyff
For Djorkaeff, the chance to work with his boyhood hero Cruyff almost proved to be too much to turn down.
“Johan Cruyff was my idol,” Djorkaeff tells FourFourTwo. “I had posters of him on my bedroom wall. It’s rare to be a legend both as a player and as a coach, but he was.”
As Barca stepped up their interest, Djorkaeff’s dream of playing under the icon was coming closer to fruition.
“Barcelona called my father and said Johan wanted me, then I spoke with him myself,” he continues. “Just imagine – playing for Cruyff’s Barça, my biggest reference.
“He even explained how he wanted me to play, just behind Ronaldo. Everything was ready for me to sign.”
However, a phone call followed that changed the path of Djorkaeff’s career.
“Then Cruyff called. He knew my main reason for joining was him, and admitted he was having problems with the club president and might not stay.
“I was sad because I’d been excited about playing under him,” he admits, before his attention turned to another European giant. “But I was already in contact with Inter.
“They pushed hard, from the sporting side to the finances, and I was fascinated by San Siro and the club’s history. The chairman Massimo Moratti invited us to his father’s house before we made our decision, and he convinced me.
“Moratti became like family – I had two children in Milan, and he always came to the hospital to make sure everything had gone well.”
