Barcelona raid Man Utd for talented youngster

Stuart Telford

• 14 Jul 2023 17:49 BST
• 3 min read

Barcelona are closing on a deal to bring Manchester United youngster Marc Jurado back to the Camp Nou, according to reports in Spain.

Barca have been busy in the transfer market this summer, despite La Liga telling them to reduce their debt by €200 million if they want to defend their league title next season.

While Ilkay Gundogan and Inigo Martinez have arrived on frees from Manchester City and Athletic Bilbao respectively, their transfers still incur signing on fees and salary costs, while €40m has been committed to Vitor Roque, who will arrive from Athletico Paranaense in January.

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Despite Barca's debt still standing at the €1.35 billion it did when they lost Lionel Messi to Paris Saint-Germain two years ago, it has been restructured and the club have been cleared to buy new players - and that extends to their Barcelona Atletic reserve team.

Barca working on Jurado deal

"Barca is working on the Marc Jurado option for the subsidiary," report Que T'hi Jugues of Cadena SER. "The Manchester United footballer, who came from La Masia, is negotiating a return to Barca Atletic. It would be an operation with reduced costs based on add-ons."

Jurado left Barca for Man Utd in 2020 and has since made 84 appearances for their age group teams, contributing four goals and nine assists.

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He is yet to make his senior debut for the Red Devils, but was called up by Erik ten Hag for the 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest in April with Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia injured.

Jurado wouldn't be the first La Masia academy player to return to Barcelona from Manchester United. Gerard Pique made the same move in 2008, and went on to win nine La Liga sand three Champions Leagues before retiring last November.