La Liga midfielder laments failed Barcelona transfer: ‘It was a dream for me’

Speaking on Radio MARCA, Racing Santander midfielder Andre Almeida has revealed that Barcelona made an attempt to sign him when he was still at Valencia, only for the club to block the transfer.

The 26-year-old Portuguese star is currently on loan at Racing from Valencia for the season, having joined the club last summer.

However, if things had turned out differently, he could have become a Barcelona player a few years ago.

Almeida claims Barcelona wanted him

During the interview, Almeida revealed that Barcelona tried to sign him shortly after he had joined Valencia.

The midfielder himself was intent on making the transfer happen, as he saw it as a ‘dream’, but Los Che blocked the move as they were battling relegation at the time.

Almeida is currently on loan at Racing Santander. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

“No, no, it was in January, in my first season there, as we were fighting against relegation and I was an important player, and I’d also just arrived at Valencia,” he said.

“They wouldn’t let me leave, but obviously it was a dream for me. But you have to accept it when you sign contracts and the club has taken that decision, and I have to accept it.”

Almeida signed for Valencia in the summer of 2022, arriving from Vitoria Guimaraes in a deal worth around €8 million.

So, going by the player’s statements, the attempt from Barcelona would have come during the January transfer window of 2023, when Xavi Hernandez was in charge of the team.

Almeida saw the chance to join Barcelona as a dream. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

However, Valencia proceeded to not sanction the midfielder’s sale as they were fighting for survival in La Liga under former manager Gennaro Gattuso.

How has Andre Almeida’s career progressed since then?

Having failed to secure his dream move to Barcelona, Almeida remained a regular at Valencia and has gone on to make 119 appearances for the club, registering four goals and 13 assists.

Capable of playing in multiple positions, the 26-year-old Portuguese ace moved to Racing Santander on loan in the summer transfer window, where he has played six matches so far.

The midfielder was not a part of the Racing Santander squad that lost 7-2 to Barcelona in La Liga earlier this season.