Barcelona Give Up On Keeping Thiago

Barcelona have given up on midfielder Thiago Alcantara staying at the Nou Camp, according to reports in Spanish paper Marca.

Thiago is expected to complete a transfer to Old Trafford after his father Mazinho returned to the Spanish club, bearing the news that his son was ready to head to England following talks with United officials.

Despite their efforts to sway the midfielder, with the likes of Xavi who was courted by United previously, Gerrard Pique who left the Nou Camp for Old Trafford and Cesc Fabregas who was/is being courted by United this summer trying to convince him to stay, Marca claim that Barcelona have known from the off that the player was going to leave.

The piece also claims that the hold up in the transfer comes simply from the fact that Bayern Munich have shown interest in the player but with United ready to offer the player €6m a year on a 5 year deal, and the fact that business between Bayern Munich and Barcelona is unlikely with former manager Pep Guardiola taking over the German club, it is almost a cert that Alcantara will become a United player this summer.