Barcelona will risk missing out on 18-year-old Spanish prodigy Alberto Moleiro, with Las Palmas president Miguel Angel Ramirez revealing talks have broken down.
In an interview with Cadena SER outlet Que t’hi jugues, Miguel Angel Ramirez has revealed that negotiations between Las Palmas and Barcelona for Alberto Moleiro have broken down. The Gran Canarian club’s president has said that the Catalan giants need more time because of their Financial Fair Play issues, thus breaking an agreement with Las Palmas.
Alberto Moleiro is the latest prodigious talent to emanate from the UD Las Palmas academy, with the teenage prodigy going from strength to strength since joining the Gran Canarian club. The 18-year-old made his first-team debut for Las Palmas at the onset of the 2021/22 season, aged 17, before making rapid strides over the course of the campaign.
The Spanish wonderkid turned out 38 times for Las Palmas this past season, chipping in with three goals and one assist. While that tally might not be inspiring enough, Moleiro has done enough to convince Barcelona and a few other European bigwigs to set their sights on him. And he seemed destined to join the Blaugrana before Miguel Angel Ramirez’s revealing interview.
Ramirez said, “I had an agreement with Barcelona that has been broken. Barcelona needs time because right not [Financial] Fair Play does not allow them to sign him and I have the pressure of other clubs that want the footballer.”
But Ramirez did not close the door on Barcelona entirely, although he made it clear that he will consider other offers for Moleiro now. The Las Palmas president added, Is he still available? I have no issue with reopening conversations. Now I have other options and I have no necessity to wait until Barcelona decides.”
Financial Fair Play issues have blighted Barcelona for a long time due to their bloated wage bill. And they are currently struggling to register the players they have already signed this summer, which is why they are keen on offloading Frenkie de Jong amid interest from Manchester United.
The same issues have resurfaced and stopped Barcelona from pursuing Moleiro. So while they were seemingly inching closer to securing the services of the 18-year-old prodigy, they might miss out on signing him amid pressure from other suitors.
The Spanish wonderkid also features on the radar of Manchester City with German clubs also keen on signing him. With Barcelona held up in the pursuit of Moleiro, the other suitors will now have a window of opportunity, considering negotiations between the Blaugrana and Las Palmas have broken down.
