Valencia’ Andre Gomes has been turning heads with his wonderful performances this season and it was reported that Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United were the favourites to sign this Portuguese youngster. However, recent reports have emerged claiming that Barcelona are now interested in securing the midfielder’s services.
Portugal prepared themselves for Euro 2016 with a warm-up match against Estonia which they won 7-0. According to Spanish publication, Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona club chiefs were in attendance scouting several of the Portuguese youngsters.
Barcelona technical director Robert Fernandez is said to be interested in the Portuguese trio of Andre Gomes, Cedric Soares and Raphael Guerriero with Valencia midfielder Andre Gomes impressing Fernandez the most. Barcelona have plenty of areas to strengthen in the summer transfer window and for the midfield area, Fernandez is determined to beat Manchester United for Andre Gomes.
Valencia reportedly have put a price tag of £30m for their star man and Barcelona are reportedly ready to meet the evaluation as manager Luis Enrique feels that the Portuguese midfielder will be ideal for the 4-3-3 formation.
However, Barcelona might lose out on Gomes as the player himself is a huge admirer of Jose Mourinho. Speaking to ESPN, Gomes said
"Mourinho is a great coach, no doubt about that, but at the moment I am not concerned about what will happen after the Euros. It will be my first time at a competition of this type, and I just want to think about that now,"
With Mourinho already having signed Eric Bailly, the ‘special one’ is keen to add more talented youngsters to his Manchester United squad. Andre Gomes is tipped to be the next big thing in Portuguese football and it is easy to see why. His physical strength has also helped him with aerial challenges this season. In addition, the youngster has the rare ability to pass and shoot equally well with each foot. Gomes has all the tools needed to develop into a solid box-to-box midfielder, who could play anywhere in the middle of the pitch.
With Gomes being targeted by both Barcelona and Manchester United, Valencia will have a real task on their hands to keep their talented Portuguese midfielder.
