When it comes to having sway over player transfers, there are three clubs in Europe that have an appeal that very few others can boast of, irrespective of their situation from a sporting or economic perspective – FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United.
Barcelona, for example, in one of the darkest times in the club’s history, managed to convince Ferran Torres, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde, Raphinha, Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie to join in the space of 6-8 months.
Similarly, despite not having Champions League football to offer, Manchester United back this summer managed to sign Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro and Manuel Ugarte, all five of whom could have played in Europe’s elite competition had they stayed with their respective clubs.
Real Madrid need no introduction to their ability to sign superstars. One player Los Blancos have set their sights on for next season is Alphonso Davies as a free agent, with his contract with Bayern Munich set to expire at the end of the season.
Now, as per MARCA, Barcelona and Manchester United are the clubs that have been closest to the Canadian player’s entourage in recent weeks. The English club have the money to tempt him while the Catalan club are trying to tug on his heartstrings using the Hansi Flick factor.
However, the report adds that the player remains unswayed by even his former manager’s persuasion, as he continues to wait for Real Madrid. The player knows that even the smallest wavering in his interest could prompt Los Blancos to pull out.
Barcelona have remained interested in Davies for quite some time now. However, the Catalan club have always known that they are behind the eight-ball and that Real Madrid hold the ‘royal flush’ when it comes to his signature.
The only thing Barcelona can do between now and the end of the season, if he doesn’t sign a new contract, is ask Hansi Flick to keep tugging on his connection with Davies and try and sign him as a free agent. It seems unlikely at the moment and let’s wait and see how it plays out.