Former Hearts of Oak winger Torric Jebrin has disclosed that a potential transfer to Spanish giants Atletico Madrid fell through due to financial disagreements between the two clubs.
Speaking in an interview with Gil Media on YouTube, Jebrin—once hailed as one of Ghana's most promising young talents—revealed that he successfully passed trials with Atletico Madrid but was forced to return home after the deal collapsed over transfer fee negotiations.
“I went to Atletico Madrid first, and everything went well. But because of money issues, I came back. The team and Hearts of Oak couldn't reach an agreement,” he said.
Jebrin explained that although he wasn’t directly involved in the negotiations, he believed Hearts of Oak held out for a larger fee, prioritizing financial gain over his career opportunity.
“I think they knew I was talented and believed they could get more money from my transfer. 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 his disappointment, Jebrin refrained from harshly criticizing the club, acknowledging the role Hearts of Oak played in launching his career.
“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.”
The failed Atletico Madrid move was one of two missed opportunities to play in Europe during his early career. Jebrin would go on to represent clubs in several countries, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, DR Congo, Nepal, Maldives, and Egypt, with notable stints at Trabzonspor, TP Mazembe, and Al Masry.
