Red Rants |
- United make £30m for Barcelona’s target
- Van Gaal impresses United’s record signing
- United in £48m bid for number one target
| United make £30m for Barcelona’s target Posted: 28 Jul 2014 04:25 AM PDT
Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo today suggests that United have tabled a €38m – £30m – offer for Colombia international Juan Cuadrado, who’s attracted interest from a host of different clubs this summer, including United and Barcelona. It is an interesting development, given that on Tuesday another Spanish newspaper, Sport, claimed that both clubs were ready to go head-to-head in the race for the Fiorentina player, after La Viola‘s manager, Vincenzo Montella, admitted that Cuadrado’s future remained uncertain.
Cuadrado has been one of of United’s main targets this summer and the club have allegedly tabled two separate offers for the Colombian two weeks ago, the first one thought to be in the region of €25m – £19.7m – while the second was around €30m – £23.7m – but now looked to have increased their offer yet again. On Friday, Sport claimed United had submitted a £27.7m offer but today’s edition of El Mundo Deportivo suggest that United’s offer is indeed slightly higher but might not be enough to beat Barcelona in the race to the 27-year-old, after the new Barca manager, Luis Enrique, has instructed his board to leave no stones unturned in a bid to secure the Colombia international. Cuadrado would fit United’s 3-5-2 to perfection, given his ability to play as right winger – a role he occupies for Colombia – as well as right wing-back – a position in which he’s often been deployed in at club level – but his versatility has captured the attention of Luis Enrique, who sees the Colombian as a perfect alternative to Daniel Alves, who might soon leave the Camp Nou due to his inflated wages. Cuadrado’s performances for Fiorentina have been excellent – he scored 15 goals and assisted 11 in 43 appearances in all competitions for La Viola last season – and after an impressive World Cup during which he assisted four goals and scored one in Colombia’s five games, he looks set to join a bigger club. |
| Van Gaal impresses United’s record signing Posted: 28 Jul 2014 12:49 AM PDT
United won their inaugural match in the International Champions Cup but looked far from their best and almost scuppered a three-goal lead as Roma scored twice in the last 20 minutes, leading Van Gaal to criticise some of his players’ performances, including Mata’s. However, far from seeking excuses for his performance, the Spaniard insisted Van Gaal’s demand for perfection and almost obsessive attention to detail is exactly what United need.
"After the game when we had given two goals away he was not very happy, but I think his way is that of a great manager," said Mata in an interview with the Guardian. "He is very honest with the players, he says what he thinks and has a clear way of understanding football. We feel the manager is a great manager who has brought a strong mentality. This club is made for a winning mentality and I think he has it. "He has had success in different countries. We are happy with him and the way he works. Everything is new but we are adapting well to his style of football. He is right to be demanding. As a player you want a coach like this, always demanding more and to play better and try to win the games earlier or in a different way." United looked sluggish and off the pace against Roma and even though they raced into a 3-0 lead, they looked second best for large spells of the game and Mata admitted the players are still trying to come to terms with a new philosophy. “The first 15 to 20 minutes we played a bit slow and it was difficult because the pitch was dry. But we tried to perform how the manager wants,” said the Spaniard. "It is my first pre-season with Manchester United and my first tour with the club and I am trying to get ready for the first game, against Swansea." United’s record signing, however, believes this season will see him at his best, after the first couple of months of his United career under David Moyes were largely hit and miss. "I will try my best, during the season hopefully we can play good football and I can do assists and score goals because that is what I have to do," said the former Chelsea player. "It was difficult last season, when I arrived it was a difficult time for the club. We had changed managers but didn't get the results. "But we are starting a new season with a new manager and we aim to put the club back where it deserves to be and that is fighting at the top. Things are changing and everyone is finding their new role in the team. But if I play behind the two strikers I feel comfortable. I have played on the left or right but my best season was when I played in that position under Rafa Benítez [at Chelsea]." Mata had also nice words for Ander Herrera, who has impressed in his first two appearances in a red shirt. "He is a very, very good midfielder. He is a good guy, my friend, we have known each other since we were 15," said Mata. "He is top quality, he can play quick, slow, dictate the rhythm of a game. He can score as well. He is a very complete midfielder and can bring these qualities to the team." |
| United in £48m bid for number one target Posted: 28 Jul 2014 12:19 AM PDT
La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Vidal’s agent, Fernando Felicevich, is due to arrive in Turin tonight to meet Juventus’ manager Massimiliano Allegri and the Serie A champions’ general manager, Giuseppe Marotta, and during their meeting Juventus will be made aware that United are ready to offer Vidal €8m – £6.3m – a season plus bonuses for the next four seasons.
Those figures dwarf Vidal’s currently salary at Juventus and La Gazzetta dello Sport adds that while Juventus are obviously determined to keep the Chilean, they’re also fully aware of their inability match United’s financial package and could opt to sell Vidal and spend the £48-50m on other players, including perhaps the big name signing Marotta had pointed to a few days ago. Vidal has been linked with a move to Old Trafford for almost two months now, despite United denying any interest and despite Juventus claiming that the Chilean would not leave the club with whom he’s won three consecutive Serie A title this summer. Contradicting and contrasting reports emerged, first claiming that United were not willing to offer over £30m, then insisting that Vidal’s wages were the real stumbling block as the Chilean demanded a salary close to £8m-a-year. If United do actually offer £48m and reach an agreement with Vidal – which, given the salary on offer, is likely – then Juventus will probably have to accept the offer, though, as it’s increasingly common these days, they might want to force Vidal to hand in transfer request, to keep fans’ discontent to a minimum. Despite two wins in their first two friendlies, United clearly lack an imposing figure in the middle of the park and Vidal’s arrival would represent a huge coup, with implications on and off the pitch, for the Chilean would not only immensely improve the squad but it’d also generate a huge buzz among the fans. |
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