Interesting story out of Spain where the Spanish newspaper Sport reports that Barcelona are offering Manchester United David Villa and Thiago Alcantara in exchange for Wayne Rooney.
Despite manager David Moyes stating on Friday that the striker “is not for sale”, the rumours that Rooney is unhappy at Old Trafford will not go away.
Barcelona are hopeful that involving Spain’s leading scorer in the deal could make United rethink their stance and enhance the Catalans’ chances of landing Rooney.
Sport claims that the transfer would cost Barcelona €4 million, plus Thiago and Villa, putting the total deal at around €31 million.
Thiago has been heavily linked with move to Old Trafford this summer for a knock-down fee of around €17 million due to his lack of playing time last season. Barca are desperate to keep hi, but with Xavi, Iniesta and Fabregas ahead of him, Thiago feels that he will not play enough at the Camp Nou next season, something that David Moyes and United can offer him.
As for David Villa, he has been heavily linked away from the Camp Nou also, with Tottenham Hotspur thought to be his preferred destination. Spurs have already had an official bid for Villa turned down. According to another Spanish daily, El Mundo Deportivo, Spurs’ bid was called “ridiculous” and they claim that Barca will not consider anything less than €10 million for the striker, who has scored 56 goals for Spain.
The problem with this deal is that United don’t need Villa, with van Persie, Hernandez and Welbeck giving Moyes lots of attacking options. Plus Thiago is already coming to Old Trafford.
Now if Barcelona offered Thiago and Fabregas for Rooney, then that is a offer that would make United think long and hard.
As for Barca, I don’t see where Rooney fits in. They have Messi and have already signed Neymar this summer, so I don’t see where Rooney would fit into their line-up in the central role that he prefers to play.