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FC Barcelona has stopped their efforts to sign Juan Cuadrado.
According to multiple reports close to the situation, Barça has given up on the Colombia international. Team manager Luis Enrique and Dani Alves came to terms and the Brazilian is staying. With that decision, the Blaugrana will now stop the pursuit for Cuadrado.
The main reason is the price. His current club, Fiorentina, is asking €50 million to sell. Also, Cuadrado's salary demands is too big for a player of his status. Both the team and the player are trying to cash in after his performance at the World Cup. His price inflated, and few teams are willing to pay. Again, according to the rumor, Barcelona is not one of those candidates anymore.
Cuadrado will meet with Fiorentina's board to decide his future. He already trained with the squad, but the possibility of a departure still exists. With Barça's alleged withdrawal from the race, the door is open for Manchester United, who are rumored as the favorites to land the 26-year-old.
Barcelona will now fully turn their attention to a center-back for their last signing of the preseason. The favorites are Arsenal's Thomas Vermaelen and Liverpool's Daniel Agger. An official announcement of the new deal is expected to happen this week. If the rumors are accurate, Cuadrado is not the guy.
