The recent Copa del Rey semifinal between FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid left many storylines behind. Barça delivered a heroic performance at the Spotify Camp Nou, winning 3-0 but falling short of overturning the 4-0 deficit from the first leg. Despite elimination, several individual performances stood out during the tie — including a very solid display from one Atlético defender who once came extremely close to wearing the blaugrana shirt.
That player is Marc Pubill. The Catalan defender has become one of the surprises of the season under Diego Simeone, consolidating himself as an important piece in Atlético’s defensive rotation.
A deal Barça nearly completed
Few fans remember that Pubill was on the verge of signing for Barcelona in the summer of 2024. At that time, sporting director Deco identified him as a potential reinforcement for the right-back position.
The situation arose during a complicated transfer window for the Catalan club. Barcelona were unable to keep João Cancelo, who eventually left for Saudi Arabia. As a result, the club urgently needed a long-term option for the right flank.
Deco had been monitoring Pubill for months while he was playing for UD Almería. After the player’s move to Italy collapsed, Barcelona believed they had discovered a market opportunity.
The operation that collapsed
The proposal designed by Barça included a paid loan of around €5 million with a purchase option that could raise the total deal to approximately €12 million. It was a formula carefully structured to fit within the club’s salary limitations.
However, Almería decided to stop the deal at the last moment. The club believed that the defender’s value could increase significantly and preferred to wait for a stronger offer.
That decision proved accurate. One year later, Atlético Madrid completed his transfer for around €16 million, confirming the potential Barcelona had initially seen in him.
Growth under Simeone
Since arriving in Madrid, Pubill has developed rapidly. Simeone has used him both as a right-back and as a central defender, taking advantage of his physical presence and tactical intelligence.
During the recent Copa semifinal against Barcelona, he once again showed his reliability, delivering a composed defensive performance despite the heavy pressure from Flick’s side.
Trained in the academy of RCD Espanyol, Pubill stands out for his athleticism, forward runs and strong defensive reading. His versatility has made him one of the most promising young defenders in Spanish football.
A missed opportunity for Barça
Inside Barcelona’s environment, there is a sense that the club missed an important opportunity. Pubill was one of several young full-backs highlighted by the scouting department, but financial restrictions forced the club to prioritize other operations.
Time has shown that the interest was justified. His market value has increased significantly, and he is now an important player for one of Barça’s main rivals.
Football often reminds clubs how decisions influenced by financial fair play can echo years later. Marc Pubill once stood on the edge of the Camp Nou. Today, he shines in Madrid — and the memory of that near transfer remains fresh in Barcelona’s offices.
Discover more from Barça Buzz
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
