Reason why Barcelona failed to sign 19-year-old Sporting sensation last summer – report

In an interesting turn of events, it has been learned through SPORT that Barcelona attempted to sign Sporting CP sensation Dario Essugo, but the move failed due to the Blaugrana’s demands and he ended up signing for Las Palmas on loan.

Essugo has quickly emerged as one of the standout players in La Liga, capturing the attention of everyone. 

At just 19 years old, the Portuguese midfielder is showcasing immense talent. His impressive performances have established him as one of the most exciting young prospects in the league.

Why did Barcelona’s move fail?

Last summer, Barcelona made an attempt to bring Essugo to the club on loan, hoping to add him to their squad for the season. However, negotiations failed to materialize, as Sporting Lisbon rejected one of the key conditions set by Barcelona. 

The Catalan club wanted to include an option to buy the player at the end of the loan, but Sporting were not willing to let go of one of their brightest academy products. 

Dario Essugo was wanted by Barcelona last summer. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

Essugo has long been regarded as a jewel of Sporting’s youth system, and his rise to prominence has been remarkable.

Essugo’s career took off when he became the youngest player ever to debut for Sporting Lisbon’s first team at just 16 years old.

Barcelona unlikely to make a move

Since then, Essugo has continued to progress, and he is now a regular member of Portugal’s Under-21 national team. His talent has not gone unnoticed by other top clubs, with Real Madrid also reportedly keeping an eye on his development.

While Barcelona may look to make another attempt to sign him in the upcoming summer transfer window, the situation remains uncertain. 

With players like Marc Casado making a strong impression and Marc Bernal set to return after an injury, Barcelona’s need for a midfielder may be less urgent. 

For now, the most likely scenario is that Essugo will return to Sporting Lisbon at the end of the season, having gained more valuable first-team experience with Las Palmas in La Liga.