Newcastle United’s hopes of signing Colombian forward Néiser Villarreal have taken a costly turn, as the young striker’s value has surged following his recent performances.
Earlier this year, reports linked the Magpies with the Millonarios FC star, who had been attracting attention from several top European clubs.
Back in February, Bolavip revealed that Newcastle were eager to secure his signature, while a month later, sources in Spain confirmed that both Newcastle and Watford were actively pursuing the 20-year-old talent.
At that time, Villarreal’s situation made him an appealing target. His contract with Millonarios was set to expire at the end of the year, making him a potential bargain for any club looking to invest in future talent.
However, in early September, the Colombian forward signed a pre-contract agreement with Brazilian side Cruzeiro, meaning he is now set to join them on a free transfer in January.
Despite this agreement, interest in Villarreal has only intensified. According to a recent confidential report from Sport, Newcastle United, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, and FC Porto all came close to signing the young striker before his Cruzeiro move was finalized.
Barcelona, in particular, had gathered glowing scouting reports about the forward after being offered the chance to sign him through an intermediary.
His expiring contract made him a “market opportunity” that several clubs wanted to capitalize on.
For Barcelona, the idea was to initially place Villarreal in their youth setup, but financial limitations and the relegation of their B team to Spain’s fourth division made the move impossible.
Atlético Madrid reportedly went even further, reaching an agreement with Millonarios, yet for reasons not disclosed, the deal fell through before completion.
What has since changed is Villarreal’s market value. His impressive display for Colombia at the U20 World Cup dramatically raised his profile.
The young attacker scored twice in a 3-1 victory over South Africa and went on to net a brilliant hat-trick in the 3-2 quarterfinal win against Spain.
These standout performances have made him one of the most promising forwards to emerge from South America in recent years.
Cruzeiro, who managed to secure his signing ahead of others, are now seen as the biggest winners. His rising reputation means his market price has soared, and should Newcastle decide to reignite their interest, they would now face a much steeper transfer fee.
What once looked like a potential bargain has turned into an expensive opportunity.
For Newcastle United, this situation highlights how quickly the transfer market can change. A player once available on favorable terms can suddenly become a high-value target after a few outstanding performances.
Villarreal’s story is a reminder that in football, timing can make all the difference and this time, the Magpies might have just missed their chance
