Barcelona passed on the chance to sign Chelsea ace to prioritize Gordon and Alvarez – report

Barcelona passed on the chance to sign Chelsea ace to prioritize Gordon and Alvarez – report Barcelona have spent the summer transfer window signing Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United and Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund. They have also been very keen on signing Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid, with the Argentine emerging as Deco and Hansi Flick’s dream striker target. Barça have still not given up hope of signing the 26-year-old striker, with Deco in Madrid to hold talks with the player’s camp and devise a strategy. Now, according to journalist Joaquim Piera on SPORT , Barcelona had a genuine opportunity to sign Joao Pedro before Chelsea closed the door on a possible summer departure. Why Barcelona walked away The Catalan club instead directed their resources towards Anthony Gordon and continued working on a move for Julian Alvarez. Barcelona could have signed Joao Pedro in June. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images for AELTC, Wimbledon) Chelsea were prepared to negotiate in June, with a deal potentially possible for around €80 million plus €20 million in variables. However, Deco prioritised strengthening the left wing after Raphinha’s injury problems created uncertainty around the position. Barcelona eventually spent €80 million on Gordon, who is expected to compete with the Brazilian rather than simply replace Marcus Rashford in the squad. Gordon’s ability to operate as a false nine also gave Hansi Flick another tactical option. Even so, he is not a natural long-term successor to Robert Lewandowski. The cost of not signing Joao Pedro Barça had identified Alvarez as their priority striker option, but it is well into August and the club have still not signed the Argentine attacker. Alvarez remains the priority target. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images) Meanwhile, Joao Pedro is close to signing an improved contract at Chelsea set to run until 2033. Arsenal also explored a transfer for the Brazilian, but the Blues did not want to strengthen a direct London rival. For Barcelona, they made a calculated gamble by not signing the Chelsea striker, and that does not seem to have panned out well so far. However, if the club manage to go on and sign Alvarez, the decision not to pursue a move for Joao Pedro will look smart in hindsight. The next few weeks will determine whether Barça made a smart decision by not signing Joao Pedro or whether it will go down as a missed opportunity.