This article was updated on 18 September 2026 to reflect Carlos Espi’s move to Real Madrid and his early involvement at the start of the 2026/27 LaLiga season.
September 2026 Update: Espi’s Bernabéu Arrival and Early Impact
Carlos Espi is now a Real Madrid player, having completed his move from Levante UD before the start of the current campaign. The 21-year-old, born in July 2005, has already had a hand in one of the season’s opening results.
Jude Bellingham scored Madrid’s first goal of the 2026/27 season in the club’s opening LaLiga fixture, a 2-1 win over Espanyol. Espi then came off the bench to add the late winner, giving Los Blancos a perfect start under Jose Mourinho.
That contribution has sharpened interest in exactly how Espi ended up at the Santiago Bernabéu, and in the financial terms of a deal that saw Barcelona walk away from him first.
Barcelona Refused €25m Release Clause for Espi
According to journalist Sique Rodriguez, Espi was offered to Barcelona before Madrid ever entered the picture. Barcelona’s hierarchy liked what they saw but baulked at meeting the €25 million release clause written into his Levante contract.
Rodriguez explained the thinking behind that decision.
Carlos Espi was offered to Barca, who consider him a good player. They rejected it, among other reasons, because they were not willing to pay €25 million for someone who was not going to be a starter.
Neither Barcelona nor Levante have officially confirmed that the club were offered Espi, so the account remains a reported one rather than a confirmed transaction. It has not been contradicted since it emerged, however, and it fits the sequence of events that followed.
How Real Madrid Capitalised on Barcelona’s Hesitation
Where Barcelona hesitated, Madrid moved. The club triggered Espi’s €25 million release clause in full, taking him straight from Levante’s first team into Mourinho’s squad without the need for lengthy negotiation.
Barcelona’s alternative, according to Rodriguez, was a far cheaper piece of business. The club signed Hamza Abdelkarim as an attacking squad option instead of stretching to Espi’s clause.
The bet is Hamza Abdelkarim. He has cost €1.5 million; he is very young and they consider that he can play the role of plan B as a striker. A bet of €1.5 million can be made; one of €25 million is riskier.
That gap in outlay, €1.5 million against €25 million, explains why Barcelona were prepared to let Espi go rather than fight for him. It also explains why Madrid, once they saw the opportunity, did not hesitate to pay the clause outright. You can read the original report on the transfer for the full account of how the deal came together.
What Is Carlos Espi’s Salary at Real Madrid?
Real Madrid have not published Espi’s exact wage, and no official figure for his salary at the club has been confirmed. What is clear is that his place in the first-team squad, and his part in the opening-weekend win over Espanyol, mark him out as more than a peripheral addition.
Clubs at Madrid’s level rarely disclose individual salary details for a squad player so soon after a transfer, and this case is no different. Until the club or a reliable outlet reports concrete terms, supporters should treat any specific figure circulating online as unconfirmed.
What can be said with confidence is that a €25 million release clause, paid in full, points to a meaningful long-term investment rather than a short-term squad filler. Espi’s early involvement under Mourinho suggests the club see him as part of their planning rather than a fringe option.
What Happens Next for Espi Under Jose Mourinho
Espi’s late winner against Espanyol has given him a strong opening statement, and it puts pressure on Mourinho to keep finding him minutes as the season develops. A goal on debut weekend tends to earn a player further opportunities, particularly from the bench in tight matches.
How much game time he receives from here will depend on form, fitness and competition for places in an attacking unit that already includes established names. Nothing beyond his current involvement has been reported, so any prediction about a starting role would be speculation rather than fact.
For now, Espi’s story is one of a player Barcelona chose not to sign and Madrid moved quickly to secure. His early impact under Mourinho suggests that decision has already started to pay off.
