Quote (Marieusz @ 2 May 2017 23:26)
Barca were about to buy him for 4.5m but pulled out because Mallorca wanted it all in 1 payment and Barca wanted to pay in variables, they then went on to buy Douglas for 5.5m and Real got Asensio for 3m :rofl:
It's no wonder how Barca have become weaker each season over the past few years with deals like this and Gomes for 35m etc
I can confirm from my Mallorca sources as well as from people who personally know Marco and I honestly trust they aren't bullshitting me (he went to the same school as my little brother, who is just a year younger) that a more accurate version would be:
Marco never had any intention of signing for Barcelona. When he was contacted he obviously didn't shut the door on them, but he told them he had no intention of negotiating halfway through the season because he wanted to focus on helping Mallorca promote. When Madrid contacted him, he agreed because it was the dream of his life and he was afraid that Madrid might not contact him again in june (not saying it was his dream because I'm a Madrid fan, you can literally google pics of 5 year old Marco wearing a Madrid kit).
His release clause was 4.5M, and Madrid gave Mallorca two options, either they signed Marco for the release clause and had him finish the season in RM Castilla (which were also playing in Segunda at the time), or Mallorca accpeted 3.9M€ and were allowed to keep Marco on loan until june. Mallorca ccpeted the latter option.