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Fabrizio Romano has delivered two major Manchester United transfer updates involving Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The Red Devils are in the midst of a major results crisis that will likely force them into action in January. Despite overseeing a horrific start to the season, Michael Carrick remains in charge of the team, but whether he will survive until the next transfer window is unclear.
Irrespective of the man in the dugout, Man Utd desperately need reinforcements, particularly at left-back and in the No.9 position, where Benjamin Sesko is expected to be sidelined with injury until the new year.
In the summer, after failing with an approach for Lewis Hall, Man Utd had the opportunity to sign Alejandro Balde from Barcelona. However, they ultimately decided to keep their powder dry for several reasons.
The player was reluctant to leave Catalunya, and Barcelona were only willing to consider an outright sale, while Man Utd would have preferred a try-before-you-buy loan arrangement. They were not prepared to pay €40 million plus Balde’s hefty wages.
Balde increasingly likely to leave in January
Heading into the winter window, the situation now looks drastically different for both Balde and Man Utd. Although there is no guarantee, as things stand, that the Red Devils will pursue the Spaniard, a transfer looks significantly more straightforward.
Balde has been relegated to a backup’s backup at Barcelona. He has become third choice in the full-back departments, including at his favoured left-back position, where Xavi Espart and Joao Cancelo – a right-back – are ahead of him in the pecking order.
At the weekend against Alaves, with several defensive options out injured, the 23-year-old had to watch on as reserve team midfielder Brian Farinas was given the nod at right-back for his senior debut, while Cancelo played at left-back.
Although he eventually replaced the Portuguese on the left, the situation is becoming increasingly untenable, and Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Balde could be on the way out in January.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano responded to questions about the futures of Gavi, who is also struggling for minutes, and Balde. For the former, there is no “transfer alert” yet, but it’s a different story for the latter.
“The situation that is getting more complicated is the situation of Alejandro Balde,” Romano said after dismissing suggestions that Gavi could leave. “Balde, in the summer, was a potential exit.
“Barcelona wanted Balde to go in the summer in case of a good proposal, but Balde wanted to stay and fight for his place. Balde was not pushing to leave Barca, Balde loves Barca, so he wanted to continue. Barcelona were open to letting him go.
“That’s the situation. Then, there was no agreement with any club, also because Barca were not letting Balde go on loan or on an easy deal in the summer. It had to be an important proposal or nothing, so it’s not that Balde was on the list of those who had to leave.
“Now, it’s November, Balde is almost never playing, really limited minutes. Obviously, this one, compared to Gavi, could be one to watch in January in case of a good proposal, in case of a good opportunity.
“Balde is not playing. Balde, also over the end of the last season, was having very limited game time, so it’s not the best year for Balde, for sure. This is why his future has to be discussed, but everything will depend on the player.”
Real Madrid favourites for Gabriel
Romano also discussed the future of wantaway Man Utd wonderkid JJ Gabriel, whose transfer links to other clubs have died down in recent weeks. According to the transfer insider, the teenager still wants to leave, with Real Madrid leading the race for his signature.
“What’s the situation with JJ Gabriel? My understanding is that a few clubs are now almost out of the running. For example, Paris Saint-Germain, at the moment, consider themselves focused on different things. They were one of the clubs linked with JJ Gabriel.
“The club leading the race for JJ Gabriel since September is Real Madrid. Real Madrid remain in the leading seat for JJ Gabriel, Real Madrid keep working on the JJ Gabriel deal, Real Madrid keep considering JJ Gabriel as a target.
“Real Madrid are there. There are more clubs, and they will be there until the end of the saga because the saga is still open. Until 1 January, JJ Gabriel will not be able to sign anything or officially complete any transfer.
“In terms of verbal conversations, in terms of verbal talks, Real Madrid are working for JJ Gabriel and remain in the leading seat.”
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