Manchester United have reportedly made a €40 million offer for Barcelona midfielder Sergi Roberto, but it has been dismissed out of hand, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The Reds are looking to put the final touches on their squad ahead of the new Premier League season, and the 25-year-old would fit José Mourinho’s plans, as the United manager has reportedly been looking for a right-back to round out his side.
United have informed Barcelona of their interest in signing Roberto, but the club’s response has been to dismiss any move, stating that the versatile player is ‘not for sale’.
Roberto broke into the Barcelona side in the 2010/11 season, and has since gone on to make 153 appearances for the Catalan club, with his most vital contribution coming in last season’s Champions League, scoring the winning goal during the improbable comeback against Paris Saint-Germain.
He is primarily a central midfielder, but his versatile nature saw him deployed at right-back by Luis Enrique last season as a replacement for the departed Dani Alves. This season, with the signing of Nélson Semedo, new boss Ernesto Valverde played him back in central midfield.
However, it would take a monumental offer for Barcelona to even consider selling Roberto after losing Neymar for a world-record transfer fee to Paris Saint-Germain this past week. Even then, Mundo Deportivo say that the player’s main desire is to remain at the Nou Camp.
