Adama Traore has revealed he left Barcelona on bad terms twice, with the winger set to face his former club when Aston Villa travel to Spain for a Champions League clash on Tuesday.
Traore first joined Villa from the Catalan side in August 2015 as a highly-rated prospect. The then-19-year-old had made a handful of senior appearances for Barcelona B before his £7million move to Villa Park, where he was expected to flourish.
First Barcelona Exit
Villa boss Tim Sherwood described his new signing at the time: "He is a big powerful boy, very quick, dynamic, and a maverick type of player. You never know what’s going to come out next. Those players are very few and far between."
The opportunity to sign the future Spain international arose after Traore found himself out of Barcelona's first-team plans. The winger admitted that manager Luis Enrique had not explained the reasons for his situation, prompting Traore's decision to test himself in the Premier League.
"I didn't leave Barca on good terms," Traore said to Mundo Deportivo in 2016. "I left, honestly, because they didn't give me the opportunity. If I had, I could say what I lacked. They didn't even tell me why."
"Nobody spoke to me. I would have liked someone to give me an explanation, at least to tell me the reasons, because they didn't even take me to do preseason training last summer."
"I left with a bittersweet feeling. I wasn't demanding anything because I had to earn that day by day, through training. I respect and understand the club. Everyone makes their own decisions."
Villa Spell and Rebuild
His time at Villa proved ill-fated as the team were relegated, while the young forward made just 12 appearances for the club. Traore subsequently rebuilt his career with Middlesbrough and later joined Wolves, where his standout displays led to a surprise loan return to Barcelona in January 2022. However, a permanent switch failed to materialise, with Traore blaming boss Xavi for his unsuccessful second stint.
"I have a thorn in my side. Perhaps a bad taste in my mouth because any Barca youth player wants to stay," Traore recalled to Cadena Ser in 2024. "I knew I was going on loan and the club's situation, and my intention was to help as much as possible."
"It's true that halfway through my loan there was a change, more personal, due to the manager. I came to fill [Ousmane] Dembele's position. It was my turn to have that position, and Xavi kept it. These are learning stages."
Champions League Reunion
Traore became the first player to join Villa from the Catalan club in 2015, but Philippe Coutinho and Clement Lenglet have since followed in his footsteps. The Deportivo A Coruna star may choose to keep a close eye on two of his former teams as they meet in the Champions League on Tuesday, with Villa boss Unai Emery aiming to earn a statement result in Spain.
