Everything happened so quick, just like Adama Traore’s pace. Barcelona jumped into the transfer market and signed the Spanish winger Adama Traore on a loan deal till the end of this season. According to the Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the winger is expected to spend the rest of the season at Barcelona with the deal, including a purchase option of 35 million euros. They will cover his full salary until June. The deal for the 26-year-old to return to the club where he started his career is expected to be completed on Friday.
The Spanish winger always dreamed of returning to Camp Nou to play for the senior team. He was one of the most entertaining players in the La Masia. One of those graduates who was seen as the future of the club. But the situation was not in favour of Traore. The arrival of Neymar also affected his position in the first team. He was a substitute who did not get regular playing time.
He joined Barcelona’s youth setup in 2004 at the age of eight, after a brief period with neighbouring L’Hospitalet. In 2013 he was promoted to the B-team and made his debut on 6 October in a 0–1 away defeat against Ponferradina for the Segunda Division championship.
In November 2013, he played his first La Liga game at the age of only 17, replacing Neymar late on in the 4–0 home win over Granada. He made his first appearance in the UEFA Champions League on 26 November, coming on for Cesc Fabregas in the 82nd minute of a 1–2 defeat away to Ajax in the group stage.
Traore also featured for Barcelona’s under-19 side in the inaugural edition of the UEFA Youth League, playing five times and netting twice as they won the trophy. He scored his first official goal for the Blaugrana’s first squad on 16 December 2014, playing 16 minutes and contributing with a solo goal in an 8–1 home demolition of Huesca in the 2014–15 Copa del Rey.
Barcelona was in search of attacking players as Xavi requested to increase the squad depth. The saga of Dembele was also a reason for signing Traore. The club is still not sure if the Frenchman will sign a new deal or not. He has also not communicated if he is leaving in this transfer window. The club gave a deadline for the player and strictly told him that they would not increase his salary as his agent demanded.
The Catalan club is also looking to sign one more attacking player and a defender. If the situation of Dembele is resolved, then Barca can easily add two more players.