How Gabriel Jesus moved ahead of Nick Woltemade in Barcelona’s striker search

Barcelona were offered the chance to sign Germany forward Nick Woltemade during the final days of the transfer window but chose to continue pursuing Gabriel Jesus instead, according to reports.

Woltemade, currently on loan at Juventus from Newcastle United, emerged as a possible option for the Catalan club while his future at Newcastle remained uncertain. However, Barcelona’s priority was to complete a deal for the Brazil international, who joined the club on Tuesday, the final day of Spain’s transfer window.

Mundo Deportivo reports that the proposal to bring Woltemade to Barcelona never progressed beyond the initial stage. The 24-year-old had begun exploring alternatives after his role at Newcastle diminished following his move from Stuttgart for €75m.

Woltemade had enjoyed an impressive campaign in Germany before joining Newcastle, but found opportunities more limited at the Premier League club. His reduced involvement led to growing speculation about a possible move, with Borussia Dortmund and Atletico de Madrid among the clubs linked with him.

Juventus then made a decisive move late in the transfer window, agreeing to take the striker on loan until 30 June 2027. Woltemade has moved to Turin in search of a more significant role and greater continuity after failing to secure the opportunities he had expected at Newcastle.

Jesus, meanwhile, said he had learned of Barcelona’s interest a week before his transfer was completed. He indicated that discussions accelerated under a high degree of secrecy, allowing the deal to move forward without attracting widespread attention.

By the time Woltemade’s name began to circulate late last weekend, the Brazilian forward had already made substantial progress towards joining Barcelona. Woltemade was also not among the club’s leading options for the position, despite the reports linking him with a possible move to Camp Nou.

Barcelona ultimately maintained their focus on Jesus, who brings experience of playing at the highest level and was considered a better fit for the club’s immediate plans. The decision meant there was no serious attempt to advance negotiations for Woltemade, even though an opportunity to sign him had been presented.

At Juventus, manager Luciano Spalletti is expected to rely on the German’s physical qualities. Woltemade can operate with his back to goal and offers a strong presence inside the penalty area, attributes Spalletti believes can add a different dimension to the team’s attack.

The move gives Woltemade the chance to establish himself in a new league while competing for a more prominent place in Juventus’ forward line. For Barcelona, the outcome of the late transfer activity was a commitment to Jesus rather than a move for the Newcastle striker.

The report also referred to a separate incident in which Barcelona briefly posted and then deleted a comment concerning Lionel Messi’s retirement, prompting questions over the club’s decision to remove it.