Manchester United are closely monitoring an “unbelievable” star who’s a strong Ballon d’Or contender, and they have the means to make a tempting offer in the summer, according to a new report.

Ratcliffe opens up on United's financial issues

In a recent interview with Gary Neville, Sir Jim Ratcliffe went into detail about the extent of Man United’s financial issues, stating the club would have run out of money if radical action hadn’t been taken to cut costs.

Ratcliffe also confirmed United will still be required to shell out money on previous signings this summer, including Jadon Sancho and Antony, who have been shipped out on loan after failing to adapt to life at Old Trafford.

As such, you would perhaps expect a quiet summer on the transfer front, but a new report from Caught Offside has suggested Man United have the capability of making a huge offer for Barcelona star Raphinha.

The Red Devils are closely following the forward, who has put in some fantastic performances this season, and there is a feeling they could be able to tempt Barca into a sale, given the poor financial situation at the Camp Nou.

Liverpool are also deemed to be capable of making a tempting offer for the Brazilian, while there is further interest from clubs in the Saudi Pro League, so there could be plenty of competition for his signature in the summer.

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By
Dominic Lund

Mar 11, 2025

"Unbelievable" Raphinha vying for the Ballon d'Or

It is little wonder Man United could be interested in a summer move for the left-winger, given that he has recently been identified as a strong contender to win the Ballon d’Or by Barcelona manager Hansi Flick.

Thierry Henry has also tipped the former Leeds United man as one of the favourites to win the award, in the wake of yet another impressive performance in the Champions League.

Remarkably, the Brazilian star is now on 46 goal contributions in all competitions this season, adding to his total last night by picking up two goals and an assist against Benfica to help his side progress to the Champions League quarter-final.

Having also been lauded as “unbelievable” this season, there is no doubt the 28-year-old, who was most recently valued at £67m, would be a top addition to Ruben Amorim’s squad.

However, it seems very unlikely Raphinha would be willing to make the move to Old Trafford, with Man United in their current state, and the £67m valuation may well have risen in recent times, which could make him unattainable.