Manchester United and RB Leipzig to battle for Barcelona starlet Ilaix Moriba
According to Mundo Deportivo (h/t Metro), Manchester United have registered an interest and made an offer for Barcelona prodigy Ilaix Moriba. The Red Devils are, however, not the only side to do so, with RB Leipzig being the other team.
A youth product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, he has been with the club for 11 years now. He has been tipped as one of the best talents to have emerged from there in recent times. The midfielder has already been given some first-team minutes in the Copa Del Rey and La Liga this term.
While United have shown an interest in the player and even made an offer, it has been said that there is a mammoth €100m release clause in his contract. Moriba has a contract that expires in 2022 and that should give United some edge with less than 18 months remaining.
However, the player is believed to be wanting to stay back at Barcelona due to the opportunities he has received under Ronald Koeman. The Dutch manager has relied a lot on youngsters such as Moriba, Pedri, Francisco Trincao and Ansu Fati this season.
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Moriba moving to United wouldn’t be an entirely bad idea given the club’s history of nurturing young talents and pushing them to the first-team. The likes of Marcus Rashford, Scott McTominay, Mason Greenwood, Brandon Williams and more recently Shola Shoretire have all come through the ranks to break into the first-team.
