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Tancredi Palmeri is back. And the Italian football journalist had this to say just hours ago about potential Manchester United transfer target Thiago Alcantara:
Thiago Alcantara has informed Barcelona of his intention to leave, according to catalan sport paper Sport. At least two offers from Premier
— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) June 17, 2013
The one I'm sure about is the Manchester United offer for Thiago Alcantara. Let's see the others
— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) June 17, 2013
The 22-year-old FC Barcelona midfielder has been heavily linked to United this summer and he currently has a buy-out clause in the region of £15 million until August 1. Thiago, who is currently on Spain Under-21 duty and will participate in the Euro Under-21 Championship final in about 12 hours, would have to agree to a move for any club that triggers his buy-out clause. Thus, he's got a lot of control in this situation. United goalkeeper David de Gea, teammate of Thiago on the Spain Under-21 squad, has already publicly urged the superbly talented midfielder to make a move for Old Trafford this summer.
There has been recent speculation that Bayern Munich may be interested in the midfielder. If Thiago's keen on leaving Camp Nou because he's blocked in midfield by the world-class likes of Xavi, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta, and Cesc Fabregas, then a move to the Bavarian club with a midfield that contains the likes of Javi Martinez, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Toni Kross, Mario Gotze, Thomas Muller, and Luis Gustavo makes little sense -- even if his former manager Pep Guardiola is set to take over this summer as manager of the European champions. At United, Thiago would almost be guaranteed of regular playing because the only midfielder on the squad that is anywhere near his level -- Michael Carrick -- would merely be a player that compliments the La Masia raised player rather than impede his path to regular first-team football for one of Europe's elite sides.