Rangers have reportedly missed out on bringing Marcus McGuane to Ibrox.
Arsenal have this evening confirmed on their official website that youngster Marcus McGuane has left the club in order to join Barcelona, initially linking up with their B team.
The Gunners have often raided Barcelona’s youth ranks over the years, landing the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Fran Merida, Julen Pleguezuelo and Hector Bellerin, but the Catalan giants have pulled off a similar move of their own.
Midfielder McGuane, 18, has come up through the ranks with the Gunners having joined way back in 2005, playing for the Gunners throughout the age groups over the last 13 years.
A former captain of Arsenal’s Under-18 side, McGuane did make his first-team debut in a Champions League clash with BATE Borisov earlier this season, but that wasn’t enough to keep the teenager in North London.
Today, McGuane’s move to Barcelona was confirmed, as the England Under-19 international has penned a three-and-a-half-year deal with the Catalan giants, and will initially join up with their B side.
The Mirror note that McGuane was also wanted by Rangers, but he snubbed a move to Ibrox in order to make the move over to Catalunya today.
It’s unclear whether Rangers wanted McGuane on loan or in a permanent move, but Graeme Murty’s men couldn’t get an ambitious deal over the line as they were ultimately – and somewhat predictably – beaten by Barcelona.
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