Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo have an article in their Wednesday edition on Adama Traore, revealing several interesting aspects of his transfer to Aston Villa.
It was widely reported at the time that Barcelona kept a buyback option on the youngster, which was understandable given how highly rated he was, and still is. As well as the buyback clause, there was also an ‘anti-Madrid’ clause, giving Barcelona an assurance that Aston Villa wouldn’t sell Adama to Real Madrid.
Those clauses were passed up when Adama left relegated Aston Villa during the summer transfer window. Mundo Deportivo say Roberto Di Matteo hadn’t wanted to sell Adama, but couldn’t stop the move in the end.
Interestingly, Mundo Deportivo look back to Adama’s Barcelona exit in 2015. It’s stated that Pep Guardiola, then Bayern Munich manager, contacted the player to ask his transfer intentions and push a possible Bundesliga move.
However, Adama was reluctant to move to Bayern Munich because Guardiola only had a year left on his contract with the club, and the manager has subsequently moved to Manchester City.
Snubbing Guardiola for Aston Villa didn’t exactly go swimmingly for Adama, however, Mundo Deportivo say Guardiola was once again interested this summer on behalf of Manchester City, but they don’t explain how the player ended up elsewhere.
