Yassine Bounou confirms he had talks with PSG last summer

Al-Hilal goalkeeper and Morocco international Yassine Bounou confirmed in an interview that he was in talks with Paris Saint-Germain during the last summer transfer window and that he was, in fact, close to joining PSG to back-up Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The 32-year-old goalie, who was mentioned as a potential target for PSG, eventually joined Al-Hilal, coinciding with Neymar's move to the Saudi Arabian club.

Once they knew it was going to be impossible to land Bounou, PSG secured the services of young goalkeeper Arnau Tenas from Barcelona. That was a surprising move, considering there were speculations about the club's interest in more established and experienced players, including Hugo Lloris and the very own Yassine Bounou.

Speaking to Foot Mercato, Bounou acknowledged contacts from PSG, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich, stating, "Regarding Paris, Real Madrid, or Bayern Munich, yes, there had been contact with these three clubs during the transfer window. What I can tell you is that I was one of the options for these clubs. But, as you know, in football, it's not just up to me. There are a lot of factors to take into account whether this happens or not."

While Bounou did not explicitly cite the reasons for the deal's failure with those European clubs, he hinted that former-club Sevilla's demands might have been a factor.

However, the goalie emphasized his happinness with joining Al-Hilal, highlighting that the Saudi club made him their priority, ensuring he became their main option and future goalkeeper. It's fair to assume that some hefty checks sent his way might have helped.