Barcelona Nearly Re-Signed Former La Masia Defender in January
Barcelona came surprisingly close to bringing one of their former La Masia defenders back to the club during the January transfer window.
Las Palmas president Miguel Ángel Ramírez has revealed that Barça explored a deal for Mika Mármol and were prepared to pay around €5 million before eventually abandoning the move.
Barça Had a Clear Path to Mármol
Mármol developed through Barcelona's youth ranks before leaving the club for Andorra. He later joined Las Palmas in 2023 under a deal that proved particularly beneficial for Barcelona.
Rather than receiving a traditional transfer fee, Barça allowed Mármol to move to the Canary Islands while retaining 50 percent of any future transfer income.
That arrangement effectively gave Barcelona a route back to the defender. Mármol's release clause stood at €10 million, meaning Barça's existing rights could have allowed them to complete a return for roughly €5 million.
According to Ramírez, the possibility became serious in January, with Barcelona prepared to activate that route and bring the 25-year-old back.
Why Did Barcelona Change Their Mind?
Speaking on the Helado Oscuro podcast, Ramírez explained that Barcelona eventually changed their plans and decided not to complete the operation.
The Las Palmas president also indicated that Mármol himself was aware of Barcelona's interest, making the sudden change particularly unexpected for the defender.
Despite the negotiations, Mármol remained with Las Palmas until the end of the season.
Mármol Eventually Joined Feyenoord
The centre-back later secured a summer move to Feyenoord, giving him an opportunity to continue his development outside Spain.
Interestingly, his new club soon brought him back into Barcelona's orbit. Mármol faced his former club after Feyenoord were drawn against Barça in the Champions League.
His versatility could have made him an attractive option for Hansi Flick. Mármol can operate centrally in defence as well as at left-back, while Barcelona's existing agreement meant the financial commitment would have been relatively modest.
Ultimately, Barça went in another direction and opted to bring João Cancelo back on loan instead.
Mármol's career has now taken him to the Netherlands, but given Barcelona's previous interest and the club's retained financial rights, another chapter between the defender and his former club cannot be completely ruled out.