The New Paul Scholes !

    There is one player from La Liga that Manchester United would like to sign more than any other this season. If the Barclays Premier League champions can pull off that remarkable transfer in the coming weeks then Cristiano Ronaldo will need no reintroduction to anyone at Old Trafford.

   In the meantime, however, United and their new manager David Moyes are close to bringing in another player from Iberia whom those familiar with football in Spain feel may yet develop into one of the mainstays of their all-conquering national team.

 Incoming: Thiago Alcantara would significantly strengthen Manchester United's midfield

United supporters may look at their club’s pursuit of the midfielder Thiago Alcantara in one of two ways.

They may, if they wish, wonder why — with Ronaldo the club’s main summer target — Moyes and new chief executive Ed Woodward are trying to sign a player who is not deemed good enough to start regularly for Barcelona’s first team.

Conversely, however, they may choose to appreciate just how gifted a player schooled in Barcelona’s fabled youth system — or  Cantera — and who has studied at the feet of Xavi, Iniesta and Lionel Messi may eventually turn out to be.
Certainly, there is no doubt about the  22-year-old’s gift for creative attacking footballer.

Standing 5ft 7in tall and good enough to score the classic hat-trick — one right foot, one left foot and one header — for Spain’s Under 21 team, who won the European Championship last week, it is hard not to draw comparisons with Paul Scholes, who retired as a United player at the end of last season.

If United can agree personal terms over the weekend and Thiago does transpire to be anywhere near as effective as Scholes, then he will, of course, be quite some signing.In Catalonia there is some disquiet at the prospect of the playmaker’s sale. They don’t like losing their own — not the good ones anyway. 

Talented: Barcelona hoped the midfielder would become a key player for them in the future

Retired: United need a long-term replacement for Paul Scholes

 

 

 

 

 

 

   You only have to look at the efforts made to re-sign players such as  Gerard Pique and Cesc Fabregas from English clubs in recent years to understand that. In many people’s eyes, Thiago has not been given enough opportunities at the Nou Camp.

   For all the majesty of midfield  players like Xavi and Iniesta, there were times last season when many observers wondered why their young apprentice was not given more of a chance to fill in at times when senior players looked a little tired.

 

   The story has indeed been the same for Thiago with the national team. The son of Brazilian World Cup  winner Mazinho, he made his first appearance for Spain’s senior team almost two years ago but has played only two subsequent matches, hence his appearance for the Under 21 team in their triumphant Euro campaign in Israel this month.

 

    What he seems to need now is an opportunity to move forwards. Just like Pique did — to a degree — at United and Fabregas did — much more — at Arsenal, Thiago is known to feel a spell away from Barcelona may help him develop.

   At United, Moyes is keen to remain true to the values of his predecessor, Sir Alex Ferguson, in terms of a  commitment to attacking football. In addition, there was actually a feeling at Old Trafford last season that United — for all their success — didn’t always keep the ball well enough — especially in the  Champions League — and the pursuit of players like Thiago and Ronaldo is designed to address that to some extent.

    Regarding Ronaldo, United continue to feel they have a chance of luring one of their favourite sons back to England. That remains a work in progress.

   In the meantime, Moyes hopes that Thiago — if he signs — can become an equally important part of the bigger-picture jigsaw.