Premier League giants Manchester United are already in the transfer market for their future plans. The club has been suffering on the pitch, largely due to a huge injury crisis, along with other problems. This has affected their performance on the pitch, as they are now just 8th in the league table.
To ensure the club continues to compete despite the many problems, they need to reinforce the squad in this January transfer window. And now the club is being linked with Gabriel Barbosa, a forgotten star from Brazil.
Gabriel Barbosa on Manchester United radar
Gabriel Barbosa is a Brazilian striker who currently plays for the Brazilian club Flamengo. The 27-year-old is a prolific striker who has already scored 20 goals this season and is thriving for the club. He is now set for a move to Manchester United, who are suffering in the same position. While he is mainly a center forward, he is also adept at playing as a right winger.
United are already looking to get him this January, as they want a quick solution to their attacking problems. According to the Mirror, they are also ready to loan another Brazilian star, Antony, to Flamengo to make the deal happen. Barbosa will be available for as little as ÂŁ20 million as his current contract ends next summer.
Antony has been somewhat of a failure for United since he came in for a fee of ÂŁ82 million in 2022. He has only made 11 appearances this season and has not scored yet. Furthermore, he was suspended for a while due to domestic abuse allegations. The club is now ready to let him leave, but only on a loan deal. Flamengo is also interested in the Brazilian star in a deal which would be beneficial for themselves.
United are also lacking goals from other forwards, with Marcus Rashford, Rasmus Hojlund, Anthony Martial, and Alejandro Garnacho all failing to make any considerable impact. Barbosa is being seen as a cheap and quick alternative to help the goals flow in.
Barbosa’s previous stint in Europe
This may be the biggest move in the career of Gabriel Barbosa, but it is certainly not his first foray in European soccer. He was an academy graduate of Santos, best known for producing legends like Pele and Neymar Jr. Back in 2016, he had made a big move to Portuguese giants Benfica, and later went on loan twice to Seria A side Inter Milan. He only made 15 appearances for the two clubs, and only scored 2 goals.
But now Barbosa has matured into a different player. Since moving to Flamengo, he has scored 139 goals for them. He is a good passer and would definitely fit onto Erik ten Hag’s system.
Barbosa already attracted European interest this summer. Both West Ham and Newcastle United were interested in him, and AC Milan are also willing to fight for the player’s signature this summer.
The Brazilian would definitely want to return to Europe, especially at a big club like Manchester United. It would be another step up in his career, and he could get to play in the Brazilian national team, with the Copa America tournament approaching this summer.
It remains to be seen whether Gabriel Barbosa does make the move to Manchester United this January, with the club in desperate need of goals.
