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29 March 2024

Transfer latest: Barcelona for Rooney sets up Man Utd Thiago deal

Published
By Football Correspondent

The battle for Wayne Rooney was given the ultimate twist by the British press today with at least one tabloid – The Sun – linking Barcelona with the in-demand striker.

That was fuelled by the other major British tabloid –  The Daily Mail, suggesting that Old Trafford was now in the running for Edinson Cavani – the Napoli striker whose destination was meant to be Chelsea.

The Cavani link to United will only further drive the notion that Rooney is not wanted at United, this despite the British broadsheets sticking with the belief that David Moyes will attempt to convince Rooney to stay before the end of this week.

Chelsea and Arsenal are also clearly waiting for the penny to drop before offering English football a new Wayne’s World.

Should Rooney have to go, however, the win-win situation from a Manchester United point of view would be for the striker to be playing in Spain (or maybe even France).

Ronaldo at Real Madrid and Thiago Alcantara at Barcelona are both delicious prospects for United to push for a swap-cum-cash deal for the striker.

With Robin Van Persie firmly in the first striker role, what Thiago will give United is the attacking midfield element that Chelsea enjoy with Mata-Hazard-Oscar and Manchester City enjoy with David Silva and Yaya Toure.

That seamless movement from defence to attack with one splitting pass or surging run. Sure Michael Carrick has upped his passing game, but he still is best as holding midfielder.

Thiago will be the new Paul Scholes. Or United's Xavi.

So should Rooney have to go – Barcelona might be willing to let Thiago go in exchange for Rooney.

Thiago is highly rated and a son of the Barca academy.

Of course, in a Red Devil dreamland Thiago comes, Ronaldo comes (or Gareth Bale) and Rooney stays.