Former Man City striker set for Barcelona move?

By Staff Writer
Updated: 21 July, 2012

Former Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo could be on his way to Barcelona to join Espanyol according to Spanish media reports.

Sports daily MARCA suggest the Ecuadorian striker, who played 27 times for City in a four year spell at Eastlands, is close to a switch to Espanyol after representatives from the La Liga side met officials of Lokomotiv Moscow last week.

The powerful forward has already enjoyed time in Spain when he spent loan spells at Malaga and Levante in 2010. The Valencian club then made the loan deal permanent last summer after City boss Roberto Mancini advised the 23-year-old he didn’t feature in his long-term plans.

Caicedo was immediately sold to Lokomotiv however, as Levante looked to reduce their crippling debt, with the Caracas-born hit man going on to net eight goals in 19 games for the Russian Premier League outfit.

City spent £5.2 million to bring Caicedo to Manchester from Basel in 2008, however, after struggling to break into the first team at Eastlands he was sent on loan to Sporting Portugal before his spells at Malaga and Levante.

Espanyol boss Mauricio Pochettino is said to be a huge admirer of Caicedo, although it is believed there are currently complications over the asking price of a player that cost €8 million just 12 months ago.

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