Barcelona missed out on Saul Niguez because they arrived three days late

Atletico Madrid CEO revealed on Onda Cero's El Transistor that Barcelona tried to sign Saul Niguez last summer and were willing to pay his release clause.

“Bartomeu called me to say he was looking for a player with Saul’s qualities and that he was thinking of paying his buyout clause," Gil said.

However, the response knocked the Catalan side back, with the Spain midfielder having already agreed a new deal and an increased clause with the Rojiblanco.

Gil added: "What Bartomeu didn’t know is that three days before we’d signed a new contract with Saul and his clause had increased from €80m to €150m.”

Saul remained at Atletico, with a new nine-year contract in hand, and even scored in the game against Barça at the Wanda Metropolitano in October.