Talented Spanish defender confirms Barcelona move was close this summer

Almeria right-back Marc Pubill has been highly rated in Spain since his professional debut with Levante and looked set to make the jump to European football this summer. The 21-year-old was initially on the verge of a move to Atalanta before being linked with Barcelona.

Pubill even traveled to Bergamo to complete the move, and it appeared this would happen after a fee had been agreed. At the last minute, Atalanta pulled out of the deal amid rumors that Pubill had missed his medical treatment related to a knee operation last year.

“I passed the medical and the next day I was going to the club for the media day and everything. They told me to come down and eat, which I hadn't done yet. When I went to my family they told me there were problems and they were trying to renegotiate things. We went to the hotel and my representative told me it had collapsed.”

Towards the final phase of the transfer period, Barcelona also seemed to be making moves for him.

“Yes, it was close. From the beginning we knew it was complicated because of the issue of Barca's fair play and in the end it didn't happen, but it was close.

A move that Pubill loved.

Yes, yes (laughs). It is always exciting,” he told Relevo.

The Olympic gold medalist also went into detail about his daily life as a footballer. He has a tattoo that says “your comfort zone will kill you,” a quote from the movie “300.”

“[I hang out with] With everyone! But it is true that many have children… and I usually hang out with young people: Arribas, Melamed, last season with Largie (Ramazani)… My daily life is simple. I wake up, I have a bathtub at home with cold water, I get in it, I take the dog out, I make coffee with my girlfriend, I exercise, I eat, I take a nap and I exercise again. When there are three or four days to go before the match, I like to analyze the rivals. I open Wyscout with my father and start looking at the opponents.”

The Blaugrana have made the right-back and left-back positions two of their priorities for next summer, and should Pubill continue to perform, it cannot be ruled out that he will remain on their agenda. Unless Almeria are promoted this season, it seems likely that Pubill will attract suitors again.