€35 million-rated Nigerian winger shines on Atletico debut after Barcelona passed on him twice – Report | OneFootball

The transfer history of FC Barcelona in recent years has been defined as much by restraint as by ambition. Decisions have been guided not only by sporting logic but also by financial reality, timing, and a hierarchy of priorities.

In this context, some opportunities were pursued carefully, others delayed, and a few ultimately passed over, even when the door remained open on multiple occasions.

According to SPORT, one such case has resurfaced this winter, prompting reflection both inside and outside the club. The player in question is Ademola Lookman, whose recent lightning-fast signing by Atletico Madrid and spectacular debut against Betis in the Copa del Rey have placed him firmly in the spotlight.

Lookman had long been monitored by Barcelona, and contacts with his entourage date back to 2024. The player is represented by the same agency as Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, with whom Barcelona had successfully negotiated a long-term deal in 2023.

This established a good relationship that could have facilitated a move, and the club followed his performances closely, particularly after his hat-trick for Atalanta in the 2024 Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, which confirmed his status as a rising international star.

However, Barcelona did not pursue Lookman aggressively at the time. The summer of 2024 had clear priorities, most notably signing Dani Olmo, who was considered a better fit for the team’s tactical vision, capable of operating between the lines and adding control rather than pure width. An attempt to bring in Nico Williams was also unsuccessful, leaving the club without a new winger despite Lookman being a more affordable option.

The situation repeated itself in 2025. Lookman’s profile had grown even stronger after an impressive spell at Atalanta and a standout Africa Cup of Nations, yet Barcelona was constrained by financial limits and could not pursue a major signing.

The club explored moves for Nico Williams and Luis Diaz, ultimately opting for a loan deal for Marcus Rashford. Lookman, meanwhile, faced his own challenges that summer when Atalanta blocked a potential €45 million transfer to Inter Milan.

Frustrated, he eventually forced his way out, but the destination was not Barcelona. Instead, Mateu Alemany acted decisively to bring him to Atletico Madrid for €35 million, capitalizing on an opportunity that Barcelona had twice passed up.

From Barcelona’s perspective, this is not a story of negligence but of calculated sacrifice. Ademola Lookman was admired and carefully monitored, but the €35 million-rated Nigerian winger was never elevated above the club’s core priorities. Whether that judgment proves correct will become clear over time.

He is a player of undeniable talent and explosiveness, yet also marked by inconsistency. For now, Atletico are reaping the immediate rewards of his impact, and Barcelona are left with a familiar question: not whether Lookman is a top-quality player, but whether this was the right moment to finally say yes.