Young Barca midfield player Thiago Alcantara could be just the man to bring some much-needed spark and creativity to the centre of the park for Manchester United next season.
Coveted Spain international Thiago Alcantara’s father signals intention that his son could depart Camp Nou this summer – and Manchester United could be keen.
SOURCE: The Daily Mail
Manchester United have been put on alert by the news that highly-skilled Barcelona midfield player Thiago Alcantara could be set to quit Camp Nou at the end of this season, with the young player’s father revealing the news.
The Red Devils have been keeping close tabs on the 21-year-old for some time now, even trying to bring him to Old Trafford 18 months ago, only for the Catalan giants to reject their £15 million offer for his services.
However, Thiago has found it virtually impossible in the intervening period to win a regular starting berth in the Barca line-up, with the likes of Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Sergio Busquets and Cesc Fabregas all ahead of him at present in head coach Tito Vilanova’s plans.
That has naturally led to some frustration on the player’s part, despite Thiago agreeing to put pen to paper on a new contract with the runaway La Liga leaders in 2011 that contains a buy-out clause worth £25m.
In total the Brazil-born playmaker, who has been at Camp Nou since 2011, has featured in only 27 matches for the Spanish giants in all competitions, during which time Thiago has found the back of the net on two occasions, as well as contributing six assists to the team cause.
However, those stats do not do the highly-skilled midfield schemer justice, as he is a player with immense potential – hence his exorbitant buy-out clause. The fact that he has already been capped three times by the world and European champions Spain, despite the glittering array of technical ball players that they have in their midfield, is also in his favour.
Manchester United do not really possess a player of Thiago Alcantara’s ilk in their squad. The 21 year-old is a player in the mould of Xavi, well versed in the famous tiki taka style and accustomed to dictating play from the middle of the park.
If United head coach Sir Alex Ferguson is to get his man this summer, there is no doubt that he will face stiff competition for Thiago’s signature from a whole host of other big-name European clubs, but the Scot should try and go all out to land the technician, as he would be the perfect fit for the United midfield next season.
COMMENTS