{"id":45003,"date":"2026-03-26T20:51:20","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T00:51:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/03\/26\/manchester-united-begin-contract-negotiations-with-barcelona-superstar\/"},"modified":"2026-03-26T20:51:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T00:51:20","slug":"manchester-united-begin-contract-negotiations-with-barcelona-superstar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/03\/26\/manchester-united-begin-contract-negotiations-with-barcelona-superstar\/","title":{"rendered":"Manchester United begin contract negotiations with Barcelona superstar"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/03\/26\/manchester-united-begin-contract-negotiations-with-barcelona-superstar\/#Man_United_begin_negotiations_to_sign_La_Liga_sensation\" >Man United begin negotiations to sign La Liga sensation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/03\/26\/manchester-united-begin-contract-negotiations-with-barcelona-superstar\/#Why_Balde_would_dream_of_signing_Cunha_at_Manchester_United\" >Why Balde would dream of signing Cunha at Manchester United<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/03\/26\/manchester-united-begin-contract-negotiations-with-barcelona-superstar\/#Cunha_20_Manchester_United_could_sign_bigger_Brazilian_talent_than_Guimaraes_for_86m\" >Cunha 2.0: Manchester United could sign bigger Brazilian talent than Guimar\u00e3es for \u00a386m<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-5'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/03\/26\/manchester-united-begin-contract-negotiations-with-barcelona-superstar\/#Man_United_hold_talks_to_replace_star_Shaw_who_rejected_Real_Madrid\" >Man United hold talks to replace star Shaw who rejected Real Madrid<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Despite having a relatively slow start to life at Old Trafford, it&#8217;s safe to say that Matheus Cunha has well and truly arrived as a Manchester United player in recent months.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<p>The Brazilian, said by United insiders to be the club&#8217;s next Eric Cantona, scored just one goal in the Premier League between August and November, far ahead of fellow summer signing Brian Mbeumo.<\/p>\n<p>But since the start of December, the 26-year-old has scored six goals and provided three assists, making him particularly impressive on the left wing under Michael Carrick.<\/p>\n<p>    Initially used as a No. 10 on the left in Ruben Amorim&#8217;s 3-4-2-1 system, Cunha&#8217;s long-term home is likely to take on a wider role in the future, and the INEOS government needs to get it right when it comes to signing the perfect player to complement him.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"man-utd-open-talks-to-sign-laliga-sensation\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Man_United_begin_negotiations_to_sign_La_Liga_sensation\"><\/span>\n                        <strong>Man United begin negotiations to sign La Liga sensation<\/strong><br \/>\n               <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Since Patrick Dorg was injured against Arsenal in January, Cunha has been preferred primarily as a left-sided player, although he is not necessarily a orthodox winger, given that he was lined up as a number 10 or centre-forward during his time at Wolverhampton Wanderers.<\/p>\n<p>One potential problem with Carrick&#8217;s approach is that Cunha, despite his quality, lacks width. The former Molineux star has a tendency to cut inside and even drifted to the right in his powerful finish against Fulham.<\/p>\n<p>That problem is compounded by the presence of Luke Shaw behind him, with the ever-present left-back no longer the predatory, forward-thinking defender he once was.<\/p>\n<p>    With that in mind, signing a new left-back appears to be a priority for the summer, especially with Tyrell Malasia set to leave at the end of his contract and Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo reporting that United are in the race to sign Barcelona sensation Alejandro Balde.<\/p>\n<p>The Red Devils are thought to be in a battle with Aston Villa and Manchester City over the 22-year-old&#8217;s contract, with the Premier League trio starting talks over a potential summer move, according to a report from Sport Witness.<\/p>\n<div class=\"table-container\">\n<table border=\"1\" cellpadding=\"1\" cellspacing=\"1\" style=\"\" align=\"\" summary=\"\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"2\" scope=\"col\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>Most rated left back<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>player<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>value<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>Mendez<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>\u00a364 million<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>racing<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>\u00a351m<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>bucket<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>\u00a346 million<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>o&#8217;reilly<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>\u00a342 million<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>Calafioli<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>\u00a342 million<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>cucurella<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>\u00a342 million<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>dimarco<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>\u00a342 million<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"2\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>via Transfermarkt<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<p>However, these approaches have not yet resulted in any concrete offers, although the article outlines that the La Liga giants are keen to keep the Spaniard but could consider a sale if they receive a &#8220;significant&#8221; bid.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"why-balde-would-be-a-dream-signing-for-cunha-at-man-utd\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Balde_would_dream_of_signing_Cunha_at_Manchester_United\"><\/span>\n                        <strong>Why Balde would dream of signing Cunha at Manchester United<\/strong><br \/>\n               <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If Cunha wants to truly thrive on the left, he will need support from a flying full-back in the same way Marcus Rashford was alongside Shaw during his brilliant spell at Old Trafford.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card  article article-card small  no-badge  active-content                      \" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"new-cunha-man-utd-can-sign-bigger-talent-than-guimaraes-rayan\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.footballfancastimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/bruno-guimaraes.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=140&amp;h=98&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.footballfancastimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/bruno-guimaraes.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=140&amp;h=98&amp;dpr=2\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<p>                    <span data-field=\"label\" class=\"article-card-label\"><label>related<\/label><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-content regular article-block\">\n<h5 class=\"display-card-title \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cunha_20_Manchester_United_could_sign_bigger_Brazilian_talent_than_Guimaraes_for_86m\"><\/span>\n<p>\t\t\tCunha 2.0: Manchester United could sign bigger Brazilian talent than Guimar\u00e3es for \u00a386m<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h5>\n<p class=\"display-card-excerpt\">Bruno Guimar\u00e3es may not be the Brazilian sensation Man United are chasing this summer.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>However, in his current spell, Shaw has tended to keep things simple in attack, operating in a similar manner to the left-sided centre-back role he enjoyed under Amorim.<\/p>\n<p>For example, in the last game against Bournemouth, the 30-year-old recorded just two progressive carries, made just 10 passes into the opposition half, and rarely saw him break the guts to get around Cunha on the left.<\/p>\n<p>    That has been the theme of the Englishman&#8217;s season, in fact he has registered just one assist, created just 0.51 chances per game and averaged just 0.21 completed dribbles in the Premier League.<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, with the Barcelona speedster providing two assists in La Liga and averaging 1.24 chances created and 1.18 successful dribbles per game, Balde would represent the perfect youthful upgrade.<\/p>\n<p>That willingness to push forward at every available opportunity is reflected in the youngster&#8217;s 2.37 touches per out in opposition territory, with Shaw&#8217;s record looking particularly poor in this regard at just 0.75.<\/p>\n<p>This is partly due to his long stint at United having started the season as part of a back three, but the point remains that even his undeniable reliability in 2025\/26 cannot mask his declining physical ability.<\/p>\n<p>    Meanwhile, regarding Balde, Como scout Ben Mattinson says INEOS are targeting a player who is on the rise and is perhaps one of the &#8220;best players in the world&#8221; alongside Paris Saint-Germain&#8217;s Nuno Mendes, who has provided 21 assists in 160 games for the Catalan side so far.<\/p>\n<p>For comparison, Shaw made 318 appearances for United, registering just 30 assists in all competitions, highlighting why a change of guard is needed.<\/p>\n<p>Cunha also had a fruitful partnership with Rayan Ayet-Nouri previously at Wolves and will no doubt benefit from having an attacking-minded presence at the back. These two were devastatingly effective on the left flank.<\/p>\n<p>If the \u00a362.5m man calls the side home for next season at Old Trafford, he could do even more in a United shirt with a player like Balde in support and providing relentless overlapping runs.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card  article article-card small  no-badge  active-content                      \" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"man-utd-hold-talks-alphonso-davies-transfer-bayern-munich-real-madrid\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.footballfancastimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/manchester-united-s-luke-shaw-reacts-after-sustaining-an-injury.JPG?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=140&amp;h=98&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.footballfancastimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/manchester-united-s-luke-shaw-reacts-after-sustaining-an-injury.JPG?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=140&amp;h=98&amp;dpr=2\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"440\" height=\"364\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Manchester United's Luke Shaw reacts after injury \" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.footballfancastimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/manchester-united-s-luke-shaw-reacts-after-sustaining-an-injury.JPG?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=220&amp;h=182&amp;dpr=2\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.footballfancastimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/manchester-united-s-luke-shaw-reacts-after-sustaining-an-injury.JPG?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=220&amp;h=182&amp;dpr=2\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<p>                    <span data-field=\"label\" class=\"article-card-label\"><label>related<\/label><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-content regular article-block\">\n<h5 class=\"display-card-title \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Man_United_hold_talks_to_replace_star_Shaw_who_rejected_Real_Madrid\"><\/span>\n<p>\t\t\tMan United hold talks to replace star Shaw who rejected Real Madrid<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h5>\n<p class=\"display-card-excerpt\">There has been progress in the pursuit of the Red Devils.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Despite having a relatively slow start to life at Old Trafford, it&#8217;s safe to say that Matheus Cunha has well and truly arrived as a Manchester United player in recent months. The Brazilian, said by United insiders to be the club&#8217;s next Eric Cantona, scored just one goal in the Premier League between August and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":45004,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[839,876,40,106,382,611,107],"class_list":{"0":"post-45003","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"tag-barcelona","9":"tag-contract","10":"tag-football","11":"tag-manchester","12":"tag-negotiations","13":"tag-superstar","14":"tag-united"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45003","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45003"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45003\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45004"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45003"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45003"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45003"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}