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.”
