Surprise: Barcelona rejected the signing of this player for Jesus
Barça insisted on completing negotiations for the Brazilian star's deal despite the emergence of another option
Barcelona turned down the chance to sign Germany's Nick Woltemade in the final days of the transfer window, according to press reports. The Newcastle United striker, now on loan at Juventus, was offered to the Catalans, but they said no because their focus lay elsewhere: landing Brazil's Gabriel Jesus from Arsenal.
Woltemade's name cropped up on Barcelona's radar just as his Newcastle future was thrown into doubt. Yet the club's hierarchy stuck with Jesus, who duly completed his move yesterday, Tuesday, on the final day of the window in Spain.
According to "Mundo Deportivo", the offer of the German striker never gained any traction. Woltemade himself had begun hunting for a new home after his role shrank at Newcastle, the club he joined from Stuttgart for 75 million euros on the back of a remarkable season in Germany.
His appearances dwindled and the interest grew. Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid both circled before Juventus struck hard in the closing days of the mercato, agreeing a loan deal until 30 June 2027.
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Jesus had revealed that he learned of Barcelona's interest a week before the deal went through, explaining that negotiations accelerated in complete secrecy.
By the time Woltemade's name surfaced late last week, the Brazilian had already taken advanced steps towards a move to Barcelona. The Newcastle striker was never among the Catalans' first choices.
In the end, Woltemade chose Turin. He wanted a bigger role and more regular minutes, the chance he had never been handed at Newcastle.
Luciano Spalletti is banking on the German's physical presence. The Juventus coach values his ability to play with his back to goal and his threat inside the box, qualities he hopes will freshen up the attack.
