Barcelona boss Xavi reveals transfer talks with Chelsea flop

Barcelona boss Xavi has revealed that he previously wanted to sign Alvaro Morata.

The Blaugrana are set for a massive clash with high-flying Atletico Madrid on Sunday. Level on points at 31 but still within striking distance of league leaders Girona and Real Madrid, the winners of this fixture will put themselves in a good position for a title charge.

Alvaro Morata has been the man spearheading Atletico Madrid’s spectacular start to the season. With a whopping 12 goals and three assists in 17 games so far, the 31-year-old is one of Europe’s most in-form strikers. Still, though, it was something of a surprise when Atleti boss Diego Simeone compared the former Chelsea flop to none other than Erling Haaland back in November.

“Alvaro Morata,” Cholo began, “is on par with Erling Haaland. In terms of goals and his numbers, he can certainly be compared to him.” It was a statement that raised eyebrows, but he is not necessarily wrong. Haaland boasts 19 goals and four assists in 20 appearances this term.

However, had things panned out slightly differently, Morata could be banging in the goals for Barcelona. Xavi has revealed that he previously wanted to sign the journeyman striker.

What did Xavi say?

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s fixture, the Spaniard admitted: “I spoke with Morata directly, there was the possibility that he would come to Barça. I think he is a very interesting player, with goals, generous. Personally, I like him a lot.”

What the Blaugrana boss is referencing is the January 2022 transfer window when Barcelona had attempted to sign the striker while he was on loan at Juventus. “There were options to go to Barça,” Morata said at the time. “I went to speak with [Juve coach Max] Allegri and he told me I wasn’t going anywhere, that he wanted me to play with [Dusan] Vlahovic.”

“I had another four or five offers, all of them really good, but in the end, Atletico had the final word. Xavi called me and spoke about football. It’s an honour that a coach like Xavi has you in mind.” Instead of Morata, Barcelona ended up signing Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who himself would go on to have an unsuccessful stint at Chelsea, like his Spanish counterpart.