Barcelona are reportedly preparing a surprising swap deal to acquire Manchester United’s rising star, Kobbie Mainoo, this summer.
According to Spanish outlet Nacional, new Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is keen on bringing the young midfielder to strengthen his squad. The Catalan club is eager to offload Raphinha but has struggled to find interested buyers for the Brazilian international. Consequently, the report suggests that Barcelona is offering Raphinha along with £8.5 million (€10 million) to secure Mainoo from Manchester United.
In April, Sport reported that Barcelona rejected a €60 million offer from a Premier League club for Raphinha, formerly of Leeds United, as they value him at £68 million (€80 million). Now, they are prepared to include the £68 million-rated winger in a deal, plus the additional fee, to acquire Mainoo, who is currently considered one of the best central midfielders in United’s squad.
Kobbie Mainoo scored the decisive goal against Manchester City to win the FA Cup for Erik ten Hag’s team and is seen as a key player for the club’s future. Manchester United is ready to offer the 19-year-old a lucrative new contract but he wants to concentrate on the European Championships with England first, as reported by The Star.
While Raphinha could be a significant upgrade over players like Antony, Greenwood, and Sancho, Manchester United fans would likely be outraged if Mainoo were to be transferred to Barcelona.