Of all the players on show in the France versus Spain showdown one stood out. And it was not Xabi Alonso.
It was Jordi Alba. While Alonso nailed the perfect header and the perfect penalty it was Valencia’s Alba incessant runs down the left, smart cutbacks and penetrative passing that worried France the most.
Manchester United in the their re-crafting of a team to wrest back the title from Manchester City and chase down Chelsea for Champions League glory will have been watching Alba very carefully.
He has been their target for some time.
What Sir Alex Ferguson is looking for is a possible long term replacement for Ryan Giggs.
Alba showed yesterday, as he tiki-taka-ed his way with the Barcelona bunch to the Euro semifinals that he is very much in the Giggsy mould.
However, it is Barcelona that Manchester United will have to face to fight for Alba.
Alba’s Spanish Barca teammates Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta and Xavi are said to be very keen on Alba coming to the Camp Nou.
Camp Nou or Old Trafford, Alba showed he has what it takes.
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