Chelsea star Caicedo's agent reveals audacious Barcelona approach

Tom Weber

• Updated: 27 Jan 2024 16:04 GMT
• 3 min read

Moises Caicedo's agent has revealed that cash-strapped Barcelona were interested in signing his client in the summer.

The Ecuador star left Brighton in the previous transfer window, joining Chelsea after a lengthy transfer saga in a British record deal for a whopping €134 million. The Blues famously beat Liverpool to Caicedo's signature after the Reds appeared to have hijacked the deal, with the midfielder snubbing Jurgen Klopp and company as he had his heart set on a move to Stamford Bridge.

However, it seems that these two Premier League giants weren't the only ones keen on securing the then-Brighton star's signature. According to the player's agent Manuel Sierra, Barcelona were also hot on his heels and wanted to know whether a deal could be done despite their massive financial difficulties.

Unsurprisingly, though, a transfer was simply unrealistic for the cash-strapped Catalans and Caicedo remained in the Premier League, though he has struggled to hit his previous heights so far at Chelsea.

What did Sierra say?

Speaking to AS, Caicedo's agent was asked if there had been interest in his services from Spain, to which Sierra responded in the affirmative. "Yes, Barca asked. Barca asked, but it was an inaccessible subject for them. It was clear."

"In the end, with the [Financial] Fair Play issue and so on, it was a complicated issue. But yes, they did ask us and well, that's where it stayed. There was no official offer; there were only soundings. The normal thing in the markets."

Barcelona, it seems, viewed Caicedo as the potential long-term heir to Sergio Busquets, who departed for Lionel Messi's Inter Miami in the summer. Instead of Caicedo, the Blaugrana signed former Blues midfielder Oriol Romeu from local rivals Girona, but the Spaniard has underwhelmed so far.