Real Madrid's New Striker Carlos Espí Was Rejected by Barcelona Over €25M Fee

Before Carlos Espí was rescuing José Mourinho's return to La Liga with a stoppage-time winner for Real Madrid, the 21-year-old striker was quietly offered to their fiercest rivals. Barcelona had the first opportunity to sign the towering Levante forward this summer, but the Catalan club's recruitment department ultimately rejected the move over his €25 million release clause.[1][4]

The revelation, first reported by Catalan radio, highlights the contrasting financial realities and squad-building strategies of Spain's two biggest clubs. Barcelona, operating under strict financial fair play constraints, liked Espí's profile but refused to commit an eight-figure sum for a player who would not be an immediate starter under manager Hansi Flick.[1][4]

At the Camp Nou, Flick is currently building his attack around Raphinha operating as a false nine. In that system, Espí would have been an expensive bench option. For a club still managing its accounts carefully and wary of clogging its wage bill with high-priced reserves, a non-negotiable €25 million release clause represented a wall rather than an opportunity.[4]

Instead, Barcelona opted for a far cheaper insurance policy, signing Hamza Abdelkarim for a fraction of the cost. If Abdelkarim succeeds, Barcelona's frugality will look brilliant; if he fails, the club has only lost the price of a standard academy contract.[4]

Real Madrid, however, viewed that same €25 million clause as an accelerator. Flush with cash after selling backup striker Gonzalo García to Fulham for €40 million, Madrid's front office moved with breakneck speed.[5][6]

Within 24 hours of Mourinho highlighting the 6-foot-4 forward as a priority target, Real Madrid triggered the clause, hijacking advanced interest from Premier League clubs like Brighton & Hove Albion and Hull City. The deal was finalized so quickly that Levante had to pull Espí out of a preseason friendly to complete the medical tests at Valdebebas.[5][6]

Espí's profile offers something Real Madrid's star-studded, fluid attack previously lacked: a traditional, physical No. 9 who thrives in the penalty area. Last season, he became a hero at Levante, scoring 11 goals in 25 appearances to drag the Valencia-based club out of a relegation dogfight.[3][5]

His aerial dominance and penalty-box instincts earned him La Liga's U-23 Player of the Season honors and convinced Madrid he was worth the investment. Levante, in turn, secured a club-record €25 million fee for a homegrown academy product, providing a massive financial windfall for the Segunda División side.[3][5][6]

The contrasting gambles of the two Spanish giants were immediately put to the test on the opening weekend of the 2026-27 season. With Real Madrid struggling to break down Espanyol in Mourinho's first league match back in charge, Espí was introduced in the 80th minute to break the deadlock.[2][4]

Ten minutes later, he pounced on a loose ball in the box to slot home a 2-1 winner, instantly justifying Florentino Pérez's outlay and sending the Bernabéu into a frenzy. While Barcelona hopes their frugal alternative pays off in the long run, Espí's dream debut ensures that the Catalan club's decision to pass on the young striker will remain a major talking point throughout the title race.[1][2][4]