Inside Spain: The Good and the Bad for Manchester United, Real Madrid move and Aston Villa interest
Inside Spain is a weekly instalment brought to you by Football España, providing an insight into all of the major stories coming out of the rich and intense climes of La Liga and beyond.
Barcelona and Ronald Araujo. There are few things that you cannot read about his future, the clubs intentions and what will happen in the summer. Here’s your interpreter.
The Catalan side have been in talks with Araujo for months, but no progress has been made on a new deal, meaning that the offer is not close to where it needs to be. Barcelona maintain they want to keep him, and Araujo that he wants to stay, and both may be true, but the numbers need to work out. Neither side wants to ruin relations with the fans, and so both are playing their cards tight to their chest, until a move is possible at least.
Bayern Munich did make progress with Araujo in January, but that trail has gone cold until they can establish who the manager will be at least. Football España can confirm Manchester United are one of the Premier League sides interested in him, and no doubt would be able to meet his asking price, somewhere between €80-100m for the 24-year-old.
Villarreal playmaker Alex Baena admitted he would love to play for Barcelona on the other hand, but his €60m release clause means that if he does move, Aston Villa are his most likely destination. Remarkably, after spending €30m plus €31m in variables on Vitor Roque, Barcelona are considering loaning him out, which is likely due to the fact he is not having an impact, and will be costly to register next season for their salary limit. The Blaugrana are also in talks with Real Betis and Argentina midfielder Guido Rodriguez, who would at least be free.
Betis appear to have agreed terms with Marc Roca,
Read on caughtoffside.com
