Before the summer window opened, Espi had thoroughly impressed scouts while playing for Levante. He found the back of the net 13 times across all competitions, establishing himself as one of the country’s brightest domestic talents.
However, Barca firmly balked at Levante’s €25 million valuation of the young forward. With Raphinha taking on an increasingly influential role in the starting line-up, the club hierarchy felt they could not guarantee Espi the regular minutes he required.
Consequently, the board decided against making a significant financial commitment for a player viewed merely as a squad rotation option. This hesitation immediately opened the door for Madrid to swoop in and secure his sought-after signature.
