Barcelona's pursuit of Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez only happened after president Josep Maria Bartomeu received a previous knock-back.
Barca are on the brink of striking terms with Inter for the Argentina international.
However, Mundo Deportivo says things could've been different if Bartomeu had managed to convince Tottenham chief Daniel Levy to enter talks for Harry Kane.
Bartomeu's top target for this summer was the England captain and he made an attempt to open talks with Levy about a fee for the striker.
But the Spurs supremo refused to consider losing Kane, insisting he wasn't for sale.