Manchester United have been linked with the Barcelona full-back today, could it happen?
As transfer gossip goes, this is an intriguing one, but one that probably doesn’t make much sense.
The Daily Mail report the Brazilian will be put up for sale this summer as they look to reinvent their squad after their Champions League defeat, slapping a £28 million price tag on him.
The paper quotes: “Some of the Barcelona hierarchy feel Manchester United could be persuaded to part with that kind of money.”
They must have got Manchester United and Manchester City mixed up. Easy mistake hey.
Alves is 29, and United have only spent over £20 million on a player over 27 twice – Juan Veron and Dimitar Berbatov- both expensive failures unlikely to persuade Ferguson to do so again.
Rafael may be in the dog house after United conceded four against Everton, but we can’t see United going for this one.
Alves is essentially a more extreme version of Rafael. Better going forward, but even worse defensively, and that last bit is one to fill United fans with worry.
He’d more than likely be an expensive failure, the type of signing we have become more accustomed to seeing at Chelsea over the years.
Add to his defensive limitations, the challenge of adapting to the Premier League and it is a recipe for disaster.
Don’t get us wrong, Dani Alves is still a quality player, and if he came to United and got it right, it would be spectacular for all to watch, but it is too high risk for the Red Devils, who in all likelihood will move for young Crystal Palace prospect Nathaniel Clyne in the summer on the cheap.
As the report states, Russian club Anzhi Machakala may be far more willing to part with their cash.
We’re not sure what is going on at the moment, earlier this week there was a report in the Spanish media linking Real Madrid centre-back/madman Pepe with Manchester United. It must be a sure sign that silly season is fast approaching.
Our advice to United fans? Don’t go and get your Alves shirts printed just yet.
Is our assessment right, is Alves to United highly unlikely or are the Mail onto something?
image: © Oh Barcelona
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