‘Xavi called me’ – Former Real Madrid forward reveals he came close to joining Barcelona | OneFootball

Spanish striker Alvaro Morata has had a journeyman footballing career, playing for some of the best clubs in Europe and currently representing Como.

The 33-year-old was linked with a move to Barcelona at times throughout his career, but he never got the chance to don the Blaugrana.

Now, speaking on El Camino de Mario [h/t SPORT], the veteran striker has revealed that he came remarkably close to joining Barcelona during his time at Juventus.

Xavi saw a role for Morata

Morata revealed that a personal call from former Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez almost changed the course of his career and brought him very close to joining the Catalan club.

Xavi wanted to sign Alvaro Morata. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

He said, “Yes, I was close. What I would have been missing was signing for Barca.

“Xavi called me; he told me that at that moment he saw that I could help the team, that for the way he pressed and all these things I could have been useful.”

According to the striker, the approach came during a complicated period in Turin, where he had doubts over whether the club saw him as a long-term solution for their striker issues.

A move that never happened

Morata admitted that Barcelona’s interest was serious enough for him to discuss the possibility with Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri.

Morata was close to signing for Barcelona. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The Spain international explained that he felt joining Barcelona represented an incredible opportunity.

Those words, coming from a man who played for Real Madrid early in his career, come as a surprise.

From a Barcelona perspective, this is a story of what-ifs. Eventually, Barcelona signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who had a brilliant six-month stint in Catalunya and then made way for Robert Lewandowski, who spent four successful seasons here.

Looking back, it is difficult to assess how the move would have panned out. What can be said with certainty is that Barcelona did not get it wrong with Lewandowski, and that is what will stay forever.