Barcelona set deadline for Ilaix Moriba decision
According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo (h/t Inside Futbol), Barcelona have set a deadline for Manchester United target, Ilaix Moriba, to decide his future. The Catalan club are of the belief that the player’s camp is delaying talks to find a new club. Hence, they want clarity over his decision by the end of this week.
A youth product of Barcelona’s famed La Masiaacademy, Moriba has been with the club for 11 years now. He has been tipped as one of the best talents to have emerged from there in recent times. The midfielder has already been given some first-team minutes in the Copa Del Rey and La Liga last term. He even scored his first goal for the club against Osasuna.
Currently, his deal expires in the summer of 2020. Talks of a new contract have been doing the rounds but there have been delays due to his wage demands. The bigger problem for Barcelona is their wage bill. It has severely exceeded the cap and they cannot offer new contracts to their existing players, let alone registering their new signings.
Now, Barcelona are losing patience over the issue. They feel that the player’s entourage are delaying contract talks in a bid to find a new club for Moriba who has been linked to United as well as Chelsea. Due to that, Barca have set a deadline of next Sunday for the player to reach a decision on his future.
Moriba moving to United wouldn’t be an entirely bad idea given the club’s history of nurturing young talents and pushing them to the first team. It remains to be seen if Barcelona let go of their prized asset and how far United push to get one of the best-emerging talents from Spain.
