"My intention was always to return to Barcelona"

Adama Traore, who moved to Barcelona on loan from Wolves last January, admitted that he always had the intention of playing for Barca when he moved to England in 2015. "I knew that my intention was always to return, but sometimes different paths are taken. The most important thing is that the aim is clear and I've arrived here, which is what I wanted to do from the beginning," the Spanish internatonal said in an interview with the club's media.

Having come through La Masia, Adama left Barcelona in 2015 to begin his time in the Premier League. That took him to Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Wolves, his final team before making the return to La Liga. 

At the moment, he will play on loan at the Camp Nou until June 2022, although the Barcelona president, Joan Laporta, hinted in his presentation as a new Barca player that the club's intention was to sign the player permanently. 

"I always talk about the important decisions with my family, who always accompany me in the good and bad times. But in this case, I was quite clear, Barca is my home and I wanted to return, and I had all the support of my family. They called me and told me about the opportunity of returning and I was quick to make the decision," the player revealed in the interview. 

Adama made his Barca first team debut for Barca on 23rd November 2013 at the age of 17 years and nine months. That is a date he still remembers "with lots of joy."

"The gaffer, Tata Martino, told me to be calm and he was incredible. In addition, I came on for Neymar, who I admired and I admire as a player. It was amazing to be with great players on the pitch, it's a very nice memory. With regards to the first goal, it was against Huesca in the Copa del Rey and it was "a very special goal," he recalled. 

Now, at the age of 26, he says he is "much more mature," something he showed in his first game under Xavi in Barcelona's 4-2 win over Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou. In that game, he got an assist and he was the best attacker for his team, especially in the first period. 

"I've got the experience of English football, but without leaving everything I've learnt here as a kid for Barca. Everything has given me experience and it has made me grow as a player," he concluded.