Barcelona reportedly contemplated a move for Atletico Madrid defender Nahuel Molina before signing Joao Cancelo this past summer.
According to a report by Spanish outlet MARCA, Nahuel Molina was the subject of interest from Barcelona in the summer transfer window. But the World Cup winner’s release clause of €90 million forced the Catalan giants to cool their interest. And they eventually zeroed in on Joao Cancelo as their priority target.
Nahuel Molina spent his formative years in his homeland before graduating from the Boca Juniors Academy. The 25-year-old grew in stature during his loan stints with Defensa y Justicia and Rosario Central before arriving in Europe by joining Udinese three years ago. And after two seasons with the Serie A club, he moved to Spain last summer.
The Argentine international enjoyed a solid debut season with Atletico Madrid. In addition, he was a part of the squad that won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. But Molina is not the undisputed first-choice right-back for Atletico Madrid, although he has scored once in his only outing thus far. However, he could have been a Barcelona player this season.
The Catalan giants were in the market for a right-back in the summer transfer window. The position has been a problem area for Barcelona for several years. And they have failed to address the issue, with players like Sergino Dest, Nelson Semedo, and others failing to make a mark.
The situation was so dire that Xavi Hernandez had to utilise Jules Kounde, a centre-back, as a right-back last season. So, it was hardly surprising that Barcelona desperately scoured the market for a right-back this past summer. And Nahuel Molina had initially emerged as a target for Barcelona.
But the World Cup winner has a release clause worth €90 million in his contract. So, Barcelona’s prospects of securing the services of the Argentine international were slim. The Blaugrana thus turned to Joao Cancelo, who became the club’s priority target towards the end of the summer transfer window.
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Cancelo finally joined Barcelona on Deadline Day of the summer transfer window. The Portuguese international has taken a considerable pay cut to move to the Catalan club. And it will be interesting to see if Molina’s fallback can finally solve Barcelona’s right-back woes.
