Matthijs de Ligt / signs for Juventus, lowering their average age to 56

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Seven Seas Sardines

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Not to mention that Barcelona as a city has a whole lot more to offer than Manchester. I've lived in the Manchester area and Barcelona. To put it nicely; I prefer Barcelona...
Barcelona's nice, but as a teenager from Holland having grown up watching English footy I don't think it'd be impossible to want to try England out first. My first move from Sweden was to Manchester.

There's no other country in the world where the football fans really are football fans, and not fans of certain players, the social life and trophy celebrations. You don't see all pubs and bars in Spain and Italy being crowded with fans and flags at lunch-time kick-off, nor do you meet many fans who can name half their own starting eleven...
 

romufc

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Classic case of his agent getting Barca to up their offer. Who better to flirt with than Manutd when it comes to wages and agent fees.

I am certain United will be used to leverage Barca into a deal and De Ligt is off to Barca.

Yet another window of chasing someone we cannot get and end up signing no one.
 

King7Eric

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Not to mention that Barcelona as a city has a whole lot more to offer than Manchester. I've lived in the Manchester area and Barcelona. To put it nicely; I prefer Barcelona...
Well it depends on how much money you have. For guys like us (assuming you aren't a millionaire, apologies if you are :p), the city would make a difference, but for the money these guys make I don't think it'd be that big a factor. De Ligt is from Holland so its not like the weather in England would be an issue for him. Plus he could head down every evening to London in a private helicopter if the money we are reported to be offering him is true.
 

Andersons Dietician

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I just feel like we are going to get all this Barca won’t match United’s money and it’ll look like they are out of it then we’ll get a reveal of DeLigt being unveiled at the Nou Camp and then a press conference about how history, his heart and blah blah blah we’re more important than money to keep peddling this “more than just a club”
 

POF

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It's pretty unlikely he will end up at United but it would be a huge signing for United if they can get him.

There has been a lot of talk about United wanting to sign young hungry players when in actual fact, they need to sign players with great leadership quality. De Ligt is one of the few players in world football who covers both.
 

King7Eric

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Barcelona's nice, but as a teenager from Holland having grown up watching English footy I don't think it'd be impossible to want to try England out first. My first move from Sweden was to Manchester.

There's no other country in the world where the football fans really are football fans, and not fans of certain players, the social life and trophy celebrations. You don't see all pubs and bars in Spain and Italy being crowded with fans and flags at lunch-time kick-off, nor do you meet many fans who can name half their own starting eleven...
This had been such a shocker for me. My boss here, a proud Catalan and a Barca fan couldn't name half of their team that started in their CL finals against us, I could name every player of both teams and he was so impressed. For me, its normal that any fan will remember the team of such a big match. You ask Barca fans around here and half of them won't know who De Ligt is. Football knowledge among the local populace here is quite poor.
 

Adam-Utd

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FFS I told myself I wouldn't get involved with this. As more and more news seems to come in.. it's drawing me back.

I can't fight the muppetitus no longer.
 

Zlatattack

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In the past when we wanted to sign a star, we'd have Fergie going to visit them, making them feel wanted, feeding them the image of success. Who do we have now? Someone from accounting with a Lawyer in tow?
 

Nou_Camp99

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Barca bound, we should just accept it.
Accept it's not. Barca have highest wage bill in the world and is 80% of their turnover. They have added De Jong and looks like Griezmann too.

They can't afford all 3 this summer
 

Wallez

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Surely this cannot happen. He is exactly what we need in terms of position and age, and is chased by Barcelona. He also has a fantastic winning mentality that we are lacking in our dressing room, and is a natural leader. Very solid with the ball as well, and a duo of him and Lindelöf along with a RB that isn't Ashley Young would allow us to play from the back. If Woodward manages to swing these negotiations in our direction, he might actually be part of the future of this club.
 

Bwuk

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Couldn't care less about the wages.

That's probably what Rojo & Jones are on combined. Punt them and just have De Ligt.
 

FujiVice

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I think we all need to realise that this isnt his last move. He's 19 years old. Its not like he's Antone Griezmann looking for that last run of money and trophies. We've certainly got a good chance in getting him. People forget we arent fecking Arsenal. We're one of the biggest clubs in the world, one of the biggest paying clubs in he world and he can always get his move to Barca if this goes tits up in a few years.

If De Ligt has anything about him, surely being at the forfront of United's return to glory is something he should be looking at.
 

Mainoldo

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Yes United. Get this done.... give him them high wages. FFP who? There going to hate us when we start winning again.

Okay.. I’m getting carried away.
 

Mainoldo

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I think we all need to realise that this isnt his last move. He's 19 years old. Its not like he's Antone Griezmann looking for that last run of money and trophies. We've certainly got a good chance in getting him. People forget we arent fecking Arsenal. We're one of the biggest clubs in the world, one of the biggest paying clubs in he world and he can always get his move to Barca if this goes tits up in a few years.

If De Ligt has anything about him, surely being at the forfront of United's return to glory is something he should be looking at.
Who gives a damn. It’s two options. Have him or don’t have him at all.
 

Nou_Camp99

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I think it all comes down to where Greezball ends up. Can't see Barca getting him and De Ligt without some serious outgoings.

Their wage bill is already at breaking point. No way can they afford both players.

This could be a real chance for us to sign a superstar and at the right age and profile for a change too.
 

GBBQ

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This would be a huge signing. Not just in terms of the player but also for the players like Sancho undecided about whether they would come here this season it would represent a clear message of our intentions.

Barcelona are absolutely going to break our hearts though.
 

lysglimt

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The idea of him signing for City or Liverpool scares me so much that I would almost celebrate if he goes to Barca. Him signing for us, I can't really Believe in....
 

podurban2

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This would be a huge signing. Not just in terms of the player but also for the players like Sancho undecided about whether they would come here this season it would represent a clear message of our intentions.

Barcelona are absolutely going to break our hearts though.
Break our hearts? There is no downside here, really. It would just be too good to be true if we got him!
 

hungrywing

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Could be as close to 50:50 in his mind. If it's true we've 'considerably increased' the offer of 14m p/a it sounds like he's going to be on Sanchez money.
 

groovyalbert

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Would be an incredible signing if we pulled it off. Still can't see it personally.

We would still have to invest heavily if we got him - we need top additions in almost every position in the team. As good as he is, he's just one piece.
 

Infra-red

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Any there any credible sources that we're even in the picture for De Ligt? Or are people just assuming as much because Barca haven't wrapped it up yet?
No it's just wishful thinking at this point, plus a few stories in the Spanish press, which have probably been planted by Raiola to force Barca to pay up.
 

SapperBRed75

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Where's the DOF?
I would ‘just love it’ if we signed him.

Sadly, I believe we are being used to leverage a better package from his eventual employers. Would also love for my baked in cynicism to be proven entirely unfounded.
 

RedorDead21

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I feel torn....if we get him he's coming for the cash lets be honest and that's just the reality of our present position. He'll also cost 100m most likely. His star is shining bright no doubt but is some of that circumstances of the club he's at, the CL run, the ability of that particular team? Is there another player in poor circumstances who could be even better....unlikely there isn't let's be honest?
 
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Relfy

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We are probably being used as leverage here, but feck it my inner muppet wants to break free here!

If we sack off some of the deadwood his wages aren't an issue. Huge statement from the club if they manage to get him in.
 
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