Carlos Espi’s fast Real Madrid impact highlights Barcelona’s £25m transfer dilemma

Barcelona considered signing Carlos Espi during the summer but decided against paying his €25m release clause for a forward who was not expected to become a regular starter under Hansi Flick, allowing Real Madrid to complete the deal instead.

The former Valencia striker has already provided an early reminder of what Barcelona may have missed. After coming on as a substitute in Real Madrid’s opening two matches, Espi scored the winning goal against Espanyol in the 90th minute, just 10 minutes after entering the game.

His late intervention has brought renewed attention to Barcelona’s decision, particularly because the Catalan club had assessed the player before choosing a different approach in the transfer market.

According to journalist Sique Rodriguez, speaking on the programme Que T’hi Jugues, Barcelona viewed Espi as a talented player with room to improve. However, the club’s sporting department, including Deco, did not believe the financial commitment was justified for a player who would not initially be part of Flick’s first-choice XI.

“Carlos Espi was offered to Barcelona, who considered him a good player. But they rejected him, among other reasons because they did not want to pay €25m for a player who would not be a starter,” Rodriguez said.

Barcelona’s original plan had been to sign Julian Alvarez, alongside another effective forward, to help replace the combined total of 39 goals scored by Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres last season. That strategy collapsed when Atletico Madrid firmly rejected the possibility of selling the Argentina international.

With few established centre-forwards available on the market, Flick and Deco opted against taking a major financial risk. Instead, they planned to use internal alternatives at least until January.

Raphinha could be deployed as a central striker, while Gordon, Karim Adeyemi and Dani Olmo were also considered capable of filling the position if required. The arrangement was intended to provide Barcelona with flexibility while avoiding a substantial investment in a player who might not have an immediate starting role.

The club’s more significant long-term investment in the position was made elsewhere. Barcelona signed Hamza Abdelkarim for €1.5m, a fee 16 times lower than Espi’s release clause, and regarded the younger striker as a potential alternative and a possible future source of decisive goals.

“Betting on Hamza Abdelkarim cost €1.5m. He is young and they believe he can become an alternative option, a decisive striker,” Rodriguez said. “A €1.5m gamble is reasonable; a €25m gamble is more dangerous.”

Real Madrid were able to take advantage of Barcelona’s hesitation. Following Gonzalo’s move to the Premier League, the Madrid club needed another forward and moved quickly to secure Espi from Levante.

The striker initially had to wait for his opportunity, appearing from the bench in Real Madrid’s first two matches. Against Espanyol, however, he made an immediate impact, finding the net in the final minute after only 10 minutes on the pitch.

That goal has not changed the reasoning behind Barcelona’s financial decision, but it has made the alternative outcome much more visible. The Catalan club chose a cheaper, developmental option in Abdelkarim and planned to cover the position internally, while Real Madrid secured a player who has already delivered a decisive moment at the start of his career.