Barcelona rejected chance to sign Real Madrid summer signing due to €25 million release clause – report

Barcelona turned down an opportunity to sign Real Madrid's summer signing, Carlos Espi, due to his €25 million release clause, according to SPORT. The Catalan club did not want to activate the clause because they deemed it too risky, given that Espi was likely to be a reserve option and the club had other plans for the position.

Real Madrid, on the other hand, signed Espi as a replacement for Gonzalo Garcia, adding the young attacking option to Jose Mourinho's squad. For Barcelona, the decision came down to whether Espi's potential warranted such a large investment for a player who would not immediately be guaranteed a starting role. The club's answer was no, and they have now turned to Hamza Abdelkarim as their alternative plan.

Abdelkarim, a young forward included in the squad for Barcelona's opening two league matches, could potentially fill the role of an alternative option, according to the club. While he has yet to make an appearance, the club believes he is capable of stepping up as a striker.