With the internet making information so quickly and widely available these days, a simple, solitary suggestion that a player can be leaving a club can, within a day, turn into a full-blown headline that the said player is prepared to walk over hot coals to join some other team. The stories usually get pseudo-justified when ‘a source close to the player’ or the player’s insane octogenarian grand-mother intimates that the player is unhappy and wants to join his new ‘dream’ club.
For starters, any footballer playing in one of the elite clubs in the world who publicly states he’s unhappy should be made to do 3 months of community service, cleaning out toilets in back to back (or should we say arse to arse) music festivals around Europe. With his spoilt little bare hands. No cleaning products allowed!
Where was I? Oh yes Alcantara to Manchester United. Firstly,we can’t find any quotes from Thiago to suggest that he wants to leave Barca or wants to join Manchester United. Thats not to say it isn’t true. But a player could risk everything (the wrath of fans, his contract and entire career etc.) by stating a whimsical desire to play somewhere else without that club actually being interested.
Furthermore, after exhaustive research (one Google search), we can’t find any comment from Barcelona about the player being available. But there has been a lot of talk about a £17m release clause that Barca have to abide by due to Alcantara’s lack of appearances last season.
And there remains a real sense from the press and people close to the player that he would be up for a move. The closest thing we have to fact about this is ex-Manchester United defender Gerard Pique who The Daily Mail quoted as saying:
“There is a possibility that he could leave but we have to convince him that the best place for him is Barcelona,”
Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea wrote ‘See You in Manchester’ on the EURO U21 final matchball which was handed to Alcantara for his hat-trick. Observe exhibit B
Then there was the De Gea quote in which he said he would like Thiago to join:
“Hopefully next season I’ll have a Spanish partner in the team. Me, as a player of Manchester United, I would hope to have a partner like Thiago, who is very good.”
What we do know is that Manchester United could definitely use some more creativity in their midfield and Cesc Fabregas and Thiago Alcantara both represent exactly the sort of player that, we believe, they need to once again challenge the cream of Europe. Whether they can prise either player from Barcelona remains to be seen but, in the case of Thiago, the omens look good.
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Simon
Jun 21, 2013 at 1:19 am
You’ve also left out the fact that graham hunter has confirmed he has agreed terms. He is a very reliable source
gb
Jun 21, 2013 at 3:45 am
Barcelona dont get a choice wether the player is available or not, there’s a buy out clause in his contract. Smartass.
Man Utd
Jun 21, 2013 at 4:08 am
Barca do not need to comment because they cannot say anything as once his 18 mil clause is paid he is free to join what ever club he wants , and Barca can not do a single thing about it.
Tyangwong Sunday
Jun 21, 2013 at 5:20 am
How true is this thiago Alcantara deal to man u.
Psalm
Jun 21, 2013 at 6:35 am
We can’t wait