Manchester United and Real Madrid battle it out for Wigan winger

Manchester United and Real Madrid will battle it out to get the signature of Wigan Athletic winger, Luis Antonio Valencia, at the end of the season. The news could well mean an end to the pursuit of Spurs’ Aaron Lennon by United, as Sir Alex Ferguson seeks a cheaper and more versatile option.

It is also no secret that Madrid are planning a big change of playing staff during the summer and it is thought that Valencia will fit into the La Liga style of play very well. It is much less physically demanding than the Premier League, which could be a big factor when Valencia has to make his decision.

Wigan manager, Steve Bruce, has all but given up on attempts to try and keep Valencia, now admitting he is likely to move. He said today: “It is inevitable Antonio will leave, but where to I am not quite sure. There have been no deals done so far, I keep reading the story but nothing has been done so far.”

So it seems that all parties involved may be waiting for the official end of season or the opening of the transfer window to happen before any action is made. It is a well known point in football that at this point in the year the rumour mill is normally in full flow and this may just be a case of a story getting way out of hand.

However, it is important and necessary to look at where would be best for Valencia if there are some elements of truth. United have proved themselves to be by far and away the strongest team in Europe over the last two seasons and there is no where better for the prospect of success than at Old Trafford.

Valencia also has first hand experience of how good United are and is already settled in England. He is likely to have already learnt the basics of English and if United make a bid then there is little doubt that he would snap the hand off of whoever makes the offer.

However, the history and calibre of Spanish football and Real Madrid is also very lucrative. Valencia is not a big person and he may suit the more gentle style of Spanish football, no doubt the quality would not be the same over the course of the season but he may well be up for the challenge.

Although Bruce is unlikely to disfavour United, having once played for them, he may prefer a bid from Spain as he would not want to see one of his main assets leave to go and play for another English club.

A move to Spain would also move Valencia back to a more familiar setting as it would feel closer to his South American roots despite the geographical gulf. This is a factor that money can’t buy and something United can do nothing about if this is what Valencia is looking for.

Where he ends up is right now a complete mystery. Wigan will have to take the offer that is right for the player and right for the club. United will probably be favourites but the solidity of their interest is unknown.

Barcelona edge closer to yet another La Liga title after emphatic win

Barcelona warmed up for their Champions League semi-final second leg this week with an emphatic win over their closest rivals, Real Madrid. Barca notched up six goals in the Bernabeau stadium as they won the important match 6-2 to virtually secure another league title.

In an intense and entertaining game it was Madrid who went ahead through Gonzalo Higuain only for Theirry Henry to equalise soon after before Barcelona skipper, Carlos Puyol, put the Catalans ahead.

Barca chose to field their strongest 11 for the game in a surprising move considering the imminence of their European encounter with Chelsea on Wednesday. Henry knocked in another and Argentine, Lionel Messi, bagged a brace, before Gerard Pique scored Barca’s sixth, rendering Sergio Ramos’ goal irrelevant.

Barca sent out a start warning to Chelsea by proving that they are in top form and their best team is playing completely in sync. The match proves just how well the West London side played last week as Madrid became completely over run and despite rapid substitutions by Juande Ramos, the capital city side didn’t look as though they had any answers.

The only bad news to come out of the match were concerns that Henry had picked up a slight knock as he appeared to hobble around the pitch for roughly 20 minutes before being taken off. Barca will also have to mix around the defence against Chelsea, meaning that one of the full backs may have to move into the middle to partner Pique or Puyol.

In this match Barca were able to show just what power they possess. They made a Madrid side look completely sub standard and in their own stadium. The scenes of trenches of Real fans leaving up to 15 minutes before the end of the game would have put delight on the faces of every Barca fan around Spain. As Puyol put it before the match: “It seems to be the Catalans against the rest of Spain.”

Even if you did not want Barca to win this match before hand, you cannot help but sit back and admire just what they did and what the performance means ahead of such a vital European game. If Guardiola had named a much weaker side and Barca lost the match marginally then no one would have been surprised, but the fact that there is hardly anyone who was expecting such a performance makes the result doubly significant.

However, if Barca have suffered in getting such a great victory then it could break up what is their best side. Henry, Samuel Eto’o and Messi are arguably the best front system in the world and with the defence set up to look slightly make shift it could let in a more efficient Chelsea system.

Barca now have the league secure, which was the aim of this game. It would take a catastrophic run of results for Madrid to get back in with a chance with such a short period of the season left. The next week could make their season.