Álvaro Morata just pulled back the curtain on one of football’s more intriguing “what if” transfer stories. The Spanish striker confirmed he came close to signing with FC Barcelona after direct conversations with then-manager Xavi Hernández, a move that would have dramatically altered the trajectory of both player and club.
The revelation came during an appearance on the podcast El Camino de Mario, where Morata described the potential Barcelona switch as “something else.”
What Morata actually said
According to Morata, Xavi Hernández personally reached out to him while he was on loan at Juventus. The conversations took place around the 2022-2023 season, a period when Barcelona was actively trying to rebuild its squad.
Xavi’s pitch was straightforward. He believed Morata’s high-pressing style would be a natural fit for Barcelona’s system.
