How Barcelona lost hat-trick hero Marc Guiu to Chelsea for just £5m | OneFootball

Barcelona's loss of striker Marc Guiu has been questioned after the teenage striker impressed in Chelsea's 5-1 win over Shamrock Rovers on Thursday.

Guiu made an impact at Barcelona last season but took his talents to Chelsea during the summer in a deal worth just £5m. While first-team opportunities have not been easy to come by thus far, the 18-year-old has caught the eye in the Conference League and took his tally to six goals in just 284 minutes in the competition with a hat-trick against Shamrock Rovers.

"How have Barcelona let him go?" former Chelsea star Joe Cole told TNT Sports after the game. "This kid in two years time could be an established number nine. I think he can go all the way. Barcelona have made a mistake."

In truth, there was nothing Barcelona could do to stop Guiu from leaving as Chelsea came forward to trigger the teenager's £5m release clause before the Blaugrana had managed to increase it with a contract extension.

Barcelona did try to renew Guiu's contract, with sporting director Deco confirming they did what they could to retain the exciting forward.

"Chelsea paid the buyout clause and he left," Deco said. "He had an old contract, with a buyout clause of €6m.

"He was offered a proper contract and an important project, but he chose to go in a different direction. The player chose to take Chelsea's offer. We offered him a project to be a striker in Barcelona, ​​but he didn't want it."

Guiu swapped Barcelona for Chelsea / Soccrates Images/GettyImages

Club president Joan Laporta also claimed Guiu "wanted to leave Barcelona", arguing the club would not work to convince players who did not want to stay.

Guiu's move to Chelsea was no coincidence, either. When he joined the Blues, an interview conducted alongside his grandfather revealed his long-time dream of taking his talents to the Premier League.

"I started playing football because of my grandad, because of you," Guiu told his grandfather Manel. "You were a huge inspiration to me as a child playing on the pitch all day."

In response, Manel revealed: "I appreciate that and all your sacrifices. You have made it to where you always said you would. Do you remember how you would say, 'Do you know where I will play?' and I would reply, 'Where?' and you would say, 'the Premier League'. And you see, you've made it. Well done, Marc. Well done, son."