Simons, who spent almost a decade in La Masia and was once regarded as one of Barcelona’s brightest academy prospects, discussed why he left for PSG at the age of 16.
“It was clear from the beginning that they did not believe in me. At the time I decided not to speak because I was focused only on the pitch,” he recalled.
“They told me: ‘We have other players that we believe in, we want to offer you a contract, but you are not one of the players who is really part of the project.’”
Simons’ departure sparked significant debate, with many people suggesting that financial factors played a decisive role. He acknowledged that the criticism surrounding his exit affected him and his family, sharing that rumors about leaving for money were hurtful and not true.
“For me, the decision was clear. At that time people did not know what had really happened behind all of this; they only had an opinion based on what they had heard,” he said. He added that his entire childhood had been spent at the club and that the insinuations were painful for both him and his family.
A photo from his time with Barcelona’s youth system highlighted his long association with the club. Simons’ departure generated ongoing discussion about whether he could have remained with Barcelona or returned in the future.
Regarding his decision, Simons stated that Barcelona’s preference for other academy players made the choice straightforward. PSG presented him with an opportunity that he did not feel Barcelona could offer at the time.
“The reality was simple: at that moment they preferred other boys. And that was fine for me because I had PSG, with a really big project, already training at the age of 16 alongside the best players in the world,” he noted. “There was no need to think about it too much: the decision was easy. Barcelona did not believe in me and, for me, the decision was clear.”
Since leaving Barcelona, Simons has occasionally been linked with a return, including discussions last summer, but the move did not materialize. He continues to build his career with Tottenham and remains a notable example of how youth development paths can diverge based on club assessments and opportunities offered to young players.
