During the summer, Manchester United were strongly linked to one of Colombia’s World Cup stars, Juan Cuadrado. The 26-year-old wing-wizard made 4 assists and scored 1 goal during the summer tournament. This looked like enough to earn a move to Old Trafford, but a deal never materialised.
As a result, he’s stayed at Fiorentina, where he’s currently under contract until 2017. Naturally enough, I’m sure Manchester United fans will be keen to see what he does next. Will he stay in Serie A, or will he seek move away from his current club? These fans will also be keen to know whether Louis Van Gaal is still interested in the player.
According to The Express, Cuadrado is asking for ‘significantly increased wages’ if he’s to agree a new deal at Fiorentina. It’s not yet clear whether the Serie A side will be willing to break their wage structure in order to keep him at the club. If they don’t, they may well consider sending him packing sooner rather than later, in order to maximise the fee they receive for his sale.
The aforementioned source suggests that the player’s contractual situation could see his £40m price-tag get a little bit smaller over the coming months. Whether this will re-ignite Manchester United’s interest is unclear, but I certainly hope that Louis Van Gaal is still sniffing around.
The Colombian ace is supremely effective in the final third. Last season he found the back of the net 15 times in 43 games. He also impressed with his link-up play, speed of thought, pace and general technique. On his day, he ‘s capable of being a real nuisance and he can be a defender’s nightmare.
At 26-years-old, he’s about to enter the best years of his footballing career. Now looks like the right time for The Red Devils to move in and snap him up, even if he will cost a pretty penny.
Van Gaal’s first priority will be signing a centre-back or two, but I hope that he also spends some time weighing up a move for Juan Cuadrado.
What’s your take? Do Manchester United really need this Colombian wing-wizard?
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