The FC Barcelona vice-president, Manel Arroyo, has explained, in an interview granted to newspaper 'El Periodico', the motives behind the club's decision to not pursue the signing of Manuel Agudo 'Nolito', who joined Manchester City this summer.

Sport EN

During the extensive interview, Arroyo says: "We explained it and I can repeat it, though it is not my department: if Nolito was not signed, it is because the sporting area of the club believed, at that moment, that it was not the right thing to do, not for a lack of money."

Barça continue to search for a fourth goalscoring forward that, together with the newly renewed Munir El Haddadi, can be the backup to the starting front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

Nolito was rumoured to be a target for the club since the past winter transfer market, and was thought to be one of the favoured options of coach Luis Enrique.

In the end, the deal did not materialise and the Andalusian attacker accepted the offer from Premier League side Manchester City, managed by Pep Guardiola.

Now the name that is gaining most prominence as a possible reinforcement for the Barça forward line is the Sevilla striker Kevin Gameiro, though other names have also been linked, such as Luciano Vietto (of Atletico Madrid) or Lucas Perez (Deportivo), aside from the Brazilians Gabriel Jesus (of Palmeiras) and Gabigol (Santos).