Why Barcelona Passed on the 'Russian Beast' — A Bizarre Rejection Revealed
17 January 2026
A Strange Rejection from the 1990s
The decision handed the rival the win of the deal.
Former Russian defender Viktor Onopko (56) tells a strange tale about how he was denied a move to Barcelona in the 1990s, despite serious interest from the Catalan club.
Onopko revealed, during an appearance on the El Petit Del Abadia podcast, that he recently learned Johan Cruyff (or one of his assistants) fully rejected the idea for an entirely unexpected reason.
The Russian defender recalls that a Barcelona official said his outward appearance did not suit the club, describing him as unattractive (or ugly), a sentiment he repeats in retrospect.
Yet, despite this beauty-standards-based rejection, the strong Russian player left a mark in La Liga; on May 27, 2001, he helped Real Oviedo secure a historic 1-0 win at Camp Nou.
Onopko recalled a moving memory from that unforgettable match, praising his late coach Radomir Antic, who promised the players a personal bonus if they won, and kept his word at the end of the game.
Onopko’s story shows how the oddest reasons can alter a player's career, but ultimately he proved that what matters is performance on the pitch, not appearance, for many fans worldwide. Punchline: Beauty is in the eye of the scorekeeper.
