Former Hearts of Oak winger Torric Jebrin has revealed that a promising transfer to Spanish giants Atletico Madrid during his youth career fell through because of financial disagreements between the two clubs.
Once regarded as one of Ghana’s most talented young prospects, Jebrin said he impressed during trials with the La Liga side, but the move was ultimately blocked due to Hearts of Oak’s insistence on a higher transfer fee.
“I went to Atletico Madrid first, and everything went well,” Jebrin told Gil Media on YouTube. “But because of money issues, I came back. The team and Hearts of Oak couldn’t reach an agreement.”
Jebrin admitted he wasn’t directly involved in the transfer negotiations, but believes the club saw his potential and chose to hold out for a bigger payout.
“I think they knew I was talented and believed they could get more money from my transfer,” he explained. “So when they got offers, they didn’t think much about the player—they were thinking, ‘He’s talented, we’ll get more money, so let’s take our time.’”
Despite the disappointment, Jebrin expressed gratitude to Hearts of Oak for giving him his platform, stating he holds no grudge against the club.
“I don’t blame them that much. I always say they gave me the opportunity, so I can’t speak badly about them—but they were focused on the money,” he said.
The failed Atletico Madrid transfer was one of two missed opportunities to play in Europe at a young age. Jebrin later went on to feature for clubs across various countries including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, DR Congo, Nepal, Maldives, and Egypt, with notable stints at Trabzonspor, TP Mazembe, and Al Masry.
