The resurgence of one time Nottingham Forest loanee Rafa Mir has taken another surprising step as it has been reported that FC Barcelona want to sign him.
Mir, 23, signed for Forest on a year-long loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers for the 2019/20 season, but to say he was a flop would be an understatement.
The former Spain U21 failed to find the net in 11 league games for the Reds, registering just one assist, while he struggled to show ability whenever he played.
However, his loan move to Huesca has worked wonders and now Marca are claiming that Spanish giants Barcelona and Atletico Madrid want his services.
Following his failed move to The City Ground, where he managed just two starts, Mir was sent out immediately to Huesca and this has revitalised him.
Mir scored nine goals in 18 games as Huesca made the top flight for just the second time in their history and he’s gone from strength to strength since.
While it is likely Huesca are to be relegated this season, Mir has shone in La Liga and has 12 goals to his name this campaign.
This includes one goal against Barcelona and a hattrick away at Real Valladolid, while his one and only assist this term came against Real Madrid.
His form has certainly been a surprise to Forest fans, with Mir not exactly setting the world alight in his brief spell at The City Ground.
It wasn’t for the want of trying – Mir certainly put himself about – but the striker resembled a rabbit in headlights whenever he got given an opportunity and consequently never grasped it.
It appears he has learnt a lot from his time at Forest as he’s certainly grown significantly as a player since, but it’s fair to say no-one saw Lewis Grabban’s understudy potentially brushing shoulders with Lionel Messi.
Mir is still a Wolves player, but has one year left on his contract. In any case, it’ll certainly be interesting to see what fee he fetches if he departs this summer.
Were Nottingham Forest too hasty with Rafa Mir during his loan spell?