Barca youngster drops Man Utd transfer hint

FT Desk

• 27 Nov 2022 13:59 GMT
• 3 min read

Gerard Pique was the last player to swap Barcelona for Manchester United, something he did in 2004 before returning four years later, and there could be more youngsters ready to follow his example.

Pique was part of a golden generation in the La Masia youth academy that also included Lionel Messi and Cesc Fabregas before growing frustrated at his first-team opportunities at Camp Nou the first time around.

Barca have blooded more homegrown players under Xavi in recent seasons, with Ansu Fati joined by Pedri, Gavi and Alex Balde as cornerstones of the first team in the current campaign.

READ: Brilliant Alex Balde solving a major transfer headache for Barcelona

Ansu, Pedri and Gavi were given fresh terms this season, each given contracts which included €1 billion release clauses, and Balde is held in similarly high regard having usurped one the club's captains Jordi Alba as first-choice left-back.

But it would appear the Barcelona-born 19-year-old-s affections extend beyond just his local club, with Balde expressing an appreciation of Man Utd in a quickfire interview with Mundo Deportivo on TikTok.

United in appreciation?

After describing Alba as a reference for him and Xavi as his favourite coach, Balde was asked "A club other than Barcelona?" to which he replied, "El United."

READ: Alba has no intention in following Pique and Busquets out of Barcelona

Whilst Balde won't be going anywhere for some time yet, United's appreciation could prove mutual, with Erik ten Hag seemingly undecided on who his first choice in the position should be between Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.

Players moving between Barca and Man Utd are a relative rarity. As well as Pique, Jordi Cruyff - now sporting director at Barcelona - left Camp Nou for Old Trafford in 1996, while Mark Hughes went the other way in 1986 before returning two years later.

Balde is currently rated at €10.1m by Football Transfers' in-houe algorithm, but his value, and interest in his services, will increase exponentially if he can impress at the World Cup with Spain.