Barcelona target Jose Angel is reportedly a step closer to a move to Luis Enrique’s Roma.
Sporting Gijon’s in-demand left-back was thought to favour remaining in Spain, and in May described a move to the Camp Nou as his first choice. However, the Catalan side are thought to have now lost out having delayed transfer negotiations until later in summer, with Roma flying Sporting CEO Alfredo Garcia Amado out to Italy to direct negotiations in their favour.
Both Sporting’s management and the Italian side’s director of sport Walter Sabatini have admitted a deal is close, whilst the player has also confirmed that where Barca were interested, it is the Italians who have shown most interest in his signature, which is thought to cost the Giallorossi €4.5m. A move to Italy would see him join Spaniard Luis Enrique, and potentially another La Liga name, should Bojan Krkic’s deal go through as expected.
Angel graduated through Gijon’s youth ranks soon after another promising young left-sided defender Roberto Canella, and in the last few seasons the two have been rivals both at club and Spanish Under-21 level for the same position. Sporting’s President Manuel Vega-Arango admitted that where they shared game-time, both players have also had as much attention in the market.
Interestingly, although League and European champions Barca were coveting Angel, and Roma are close to securing his services, Sporting are believed to favour keeping hold of Canella, reflected in Vega-Arango’s claims that only a €20m bid would see them crazy enough to lose their other left-back.
