Zambia Women’s National Team skipper Barbara Banda was sought after by French giants Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) last year but she turned down the offer.
Before PSG started chasing her signature, the 22-year-old striker was set to join Spanish giants Real Madrid early last year.
Her supposed move to Real Madrid was, however, halted following the controversy that surrounded her prior to the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), BolaNews was exclusively informed by Soccer Donna, a women’s football transfer news outlet.
According to the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), Banda and three others were disqualified from playing at the WAFCON due to gender verification rules.
Others were the Spain-based duo of Racheal Kundananji and Racheal Nachula as well as Turkey-based midfielder Prisca Chilufya.
Real Madrid approached Banda just after the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, where she scored six goals in two matches against the Netherlands and China to become the first woman in Olympic history to score two hat-tricks in the same campaign.
Mwape confirmed Barbara Banda’s move to Real Madrid
Copper Queens coach Bruce Mwape also confirmed to journalists in Lusaka on June 9, 2022, that the player had been excused from camp to finalize her transfer to the Spanish club.
“Barbara is not with us today because she has been excused to complete her move. As you may all be aware she will be joining a Spanish club,” said Mwape.
RELATED ARTICLE: Why Barbara Banda’s move to Real Madrid was halted
However, Soccer Donna in September last year told BolaNews that Banda’s move to Real Madrid was halted after the news of her ineligibility to play at WAFCON.
“The transfer of Barbra Banda to Madrid is on hold after the happenings before the WAFCON. We will see what happens next,” wrote the women’s football transfer experts.
Transfer talks between Banda and Los Blancos did not continue since then.
BARBARA BANDA TURNS DOWN PSG DEAL
Banda and her agent traveled to France in August of last year to finalize a transfer from Chinese club Shanghai Shengli to PSG.
This came shortly after her transfer talks with Real Madrid fell through.
The French giants were interested in acquiring the Olympic record-breaker, but the two parties couldn’t agree on the wages.
According to an insider, PSG proposed less pay than she is currently earning in China.
“The deal was almost complete but PSG were offering her less and she turned down the offer,” said the insider.
It is also understood that taxes charged on the gross income of foreign players in France is too high. That further explains Banda’s refusal to accept PSG’s offer.
The insider, however, did not reveal how much PSG proposed to her.
RELATED ARTICLE: Kundananji & Asisat Bossing Spanish Women’s League
Banda will captain Zambia at their first FIFA World Cup, which will begin on July 20, 2023. Australia and New Zealand will co-host the women’s football showpiece.
The Copper Queens were drawn in Group C alongside Spain, Costa Rica, and Japan. They will kick off their campaign against Nadeshiko Japan on the 22nd of July.
