Barcelona appear to be backing away from a potential summer deal for ex-Tottenham Hotspur defender Juan Foyth.
That’s according to Catalan newspaper SPORT, who claim that Barcelona have been interested in signing Foyth for some time.
It’s stated that Barcelona explored a deal last summer and offered Villarreal around €25million (£22million) for Foyth.
Villarreal didn’t even consider that kind of price but Barcelona have maintained their interest in signing Foyth.
However, Villarreal are now sticking to the €60million (£53million) release clause in Foyth’s contract.
Barcelona have no plans to pay that kind of money and are already exploring moves for other defenders.
This comes less than two years since Tottenham sold Foyth to Villarreal after a successful loan spell.
Tottenham sold Juan Foyth for just £13m
Mauricio Pochettino pounced in the summer of 2017 as used his knowledge of the Argentinian market to snap up Foyth from Estudiantes.
Spurs saw major potential in Foyth but it never quite worked out for him in North London.
Foyth only ever made 16 Premier League appearances for Tottenham and 32 in all competitions.
Never quite at home at centre back or right back in a Tottenham shirt, Foyth was loaned out to Villarreal for the 2020-21 season.
The move became permanent for just £13million in 2021 as his time at Tottenham came to an end.
You can’t really suggest that Tottenham are missing Foyth, but seeing Barcelona target a deal for the Argentinian stings a little.
Barcelona may not fancy paying £53million but they clearly see some talent in the 25-year-old.
Maybe it was just a case of wrong place, wrong time for Foyth at Tottenham, and Spurs fans will be watching Foyth’s future with interest.
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