Dušan Vlahović has officially joined Turkish giants Beşiktaş J.K., taking one striker off the table for FC Barcelona, who are still looking for a forward following the departure of Robert Lewandowski to Chicago Fire.
Vlahović had been rumored as a potential signing for the Catalans following his departure from Juventus FC. However, the interest ultimately proved one-sided. Vlahović was keen to join, even reportedly dropping his salary expectations and waiting beyond his original deadline, hoping Barcelona would make a move.
Barça were said to have met with the player’s representatives. There was no word that they ever completely ruled him out. But the proof was in the pudding: Vlahović was a free agent and Barcelona made no push to sign him.
Reports say Barcelona are on the verge of selling Ferran Torres to Paris Saint-Germain for €50 million. That makes the striker search even more critical. There are some that say the blaugrana should sign two strikers at that point, not just one.
Even still, it seems Vlahović was simply not in the plans.
Barça’s #1 target is known to be Julián Alvarez, but Atlético de Madrid have no desire to sell him. Many other targets have been mentioned but so far, the Catalans have not made a definitive move for any of them.