Mikautadze welcomes Barcelona interest and refuses to rule out future move

Georges Mikautadze says joining Barcelona remains a personal ambition and has welcomed the Spanish club’s previous interest in him.

The Villarreal striker was linked with a move to Barcelona during the summer transfer window, when the Catalan club was looking for a forward after Robert Lewandowski’s departure. Barcelona ultimately turned to Gabriel Jesus, having also been unable to complete a deal for Julian Alvarez following a dispute with his club Atletico de Madrid.

Mikautadze, speaking to DAZN, said he had followed Barcelona throughout his life and would be open to the possibility of joining them.

“Of course, it makes me happy,” he said. “Barcelona is the club of my heart. I have followed their matches since I was young. Now I have to keep working, so why shouldn’t I get the chance to move to a big club like that?”

The 26-year-old joined Villarreal on 1 September 2025 from Olympique Lyonnais for 36m euros, including 5m euros in potential add-ons. Olympique Lyonnais also retained a 10% share of any future profit from his sale. Mikautadze signed a contract running until June 2031.

He attracted widespread attention while playing for Georgia at UEFA Euro 2024, scoring three goals in the group stage before Georgia were eliminated by Spain in the last 16.

Mikautadze had previously impressed during a spell at Metz, scoring 11 goals in 17 matches in the second half of the 2023-24 season after returning to the French club on loan from Ajax. He subsequently made a permanent move to Olympique Lyonnais before joining Villarreal.

Born in Lyon, France, on 31 October 2000, Mikautadze chose to represent Georgia internationally. He has become one of their leading attacking players, with his movement into space, finishing and ability to create chances for team-mates among his main strengths.

In his first season with Villarreal, he scored 16 goals and provided six assists in 44 appearances, demonstrating his ability to adapt to Spanish football.

However, the opening of the 2026-27 campaign has proved more difficult. Mikautadze has been frustrated by a lack of playing time and believes regular involvement would give him more opportunities to display his attacking qualities and influence matches.

“Certainly, with more playing time, I would have greater opportunities to score goals and affect games,” he said. “But I am someone who never gives up, and I will continue working to prove to the manager that he is wrong to keep me on the bench.”

He added: “I believe I am not far away, because I feel I have the qualities and ability to become one of the best strikers in La Liga.”