Adama Traore's debut for Spain on Wednesday night couldn't have gone much better - and it's a performance that Barcelona will likely rue having let the winger go in 2015. At just 24 years old, Adama is showing the power and skill that he displayed in patches as a young player. And it was in evidence for La Roja in their friendly with Portugal in Lisbon. Coming on for Sergio Canales in the 62nd minute, Adama embarked on one extraordinary run in particular which left Nelson Semedo in his wake, and that created a chance for Dani Olmo.
The winger is in the best shape of his career, but it was one that began in Barcelona. He grew up in La Masia and made his debut for the first team as a 17-year-old. But as time went on - and with Barcelona at that time possessing the fabled MSN front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, as well as Pedro Rodriguez - the opportunities for Adama dried up. And as he revealed in an interview with Mundo Deportivo in late 2016, Adama didn't know why.
"I didn't leave Barcelona on good terms", he said. "I left because they stopped giving me opportunities. I didn't know what I had to do better, because they didn't tell me why it was happening".
And Adama wasn't prepared to sit and wait, in the end seizing the chance to join Aston Villa in 2015 for 10 million euros. "In my last season - when I played - I believed I had done enough to deserve more playing time," he said. "But they made me go back to Barcelona B, where I had spent two years already.
"I wanted to grow as a player, and I felt that leaving was my opportunity to see if I could reach the top level. I would've liked someone at Barcelona to talk to me, at least to tell me the reasons why I wasn't playing I tried to keep training and I didn't demand anything. I respect the club and they can take whatever decisions they want, but it all left a sour taste".
And if Barcelona came calling again? "Why not? I wouldn't turn them down", Adama said in April. I would go to Real Madrid, too", he claimed.
shimtheikumrah96
343
He left for nothing but see the body structure in the picture then and now😂 because of that reason that's it
AlexWeche11
131
DON'T UNDERESTIMATE the Power of TRAORE💪😉
Lanomike
128
he simply didn't have a chance,there was messi,Neymar,suarez and pedro
ishti
59
He is a visionary. He saw what Bartomeu is capable of doing. Do he left.
qqertyuiop
51
BECAUSE HE KNEW WHO WAS BARTOMEU
TahmidTasin
42
He left Barcelona only to meet the Portuguese national team at EPL .
ManUnitedRedDevils
27
by the title he left because he wasn't treated good, Barca now don't know how to treat player's
Luqmanboy
12
He was aware that clown bartomeu would make his career worst
Massive23
9
Sorry Adama, Stop Saying unwanted Says... opportunity are created, not given. perhaps Barca may get to you Sometimes in future ✌