This could prove to be quite the costly oversight for Manchester United.
United have been linked with a move for Saul Niguez for several years and the reports are doing the rounds again this week, with Spanish media suggesting that the Red Devils could be prepared to meet Niguez’s £134 million release clause.
Niguez is well on his way to developing into a world class midfielder for both Atletico Madrid and Spain but he was offered to a couple of clubs in England as a youngster.
Everton had the chance to sign Niguez as a teenager before United rejected the midfield maestro as a 20-year-old, according to Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague.
“We have never had a midfielder like this,” Balague told the BBC. “Finally people have realised the talent that this man has.
“As an 18-year-old he was offered to Everton and they said no, as a 20-year-old he was offered to Manchester United and they said no but I think in the next couple of years we will be talking about him as one of the top, if not the top midfielder in Europe.
“He can play in the Simeone style without the ball, quick putting teams under pressure, but also in the Barcelona style if he wanted to, quick with his passes, and of course he has got the physique to come from deep as he did with one of the goals against Croatia. You have got everything in one player.”
Barcelona reportedly have the first refusal on Niguez, a clause which was agreed between the clubs when Barca sold David Villa to Atletico in 2013.
Should United admit their mistake and return with an offer for Niguez, Atletico must inform Barcelona and give the Catalan club the opportunity to match the fee.
