Club Brugge legend backs Barcelona-linked striker for European success: 'A player for the future'

Barcelona explored signing Club Brugge forward Nicolo Tresoldi as it sought a long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski, but a €50 million valuation from Brugge stopped the deal. Barcelona initially targeted Julian Alvarez, yet complications with Atletico Madrid led it to consider alternatives, with Tresoldi among them. While the Catalan club showed concrete interest, it refused to meet the €50m demand given its financial constraints. Club Brugge icon Olivier De Cock later discussed Tresoldi’s potential, telling AS that his first impression was of a young striker with significant promise, more of a “player for the future.” De Cock added that a player’s ceiling depends on managers, clubs, adaptation, and continued development.