Rumour: Manchester United and Barcelona to battle to sign Miranda but neither happy to pay release clause

Miranda in action for Atletico Madrid

Manchester United and Barcelona are battling between each other to sign Atletico Madrid’s highly-rated defender Miranda but are unwilling to pay his release clause of £24 million, according to the Daily Star.

Miranda, 29, was a rock at the heart of Atletico Madrid’s defence last season as they won La Liga and reached the Champions League final, only for their triumph cruelly to be taken away from them with one minute left on the clock as Sergio Ramos sent the game to extra time.

It was revealed yesterday that two clubs were battling for his signature – thought to be Man United and Barcelona – who are seeking defensive reinforcements.

Barcelona, who lost the Liga title on the final day of the season to Atleti at the Nou Camp, lost Carles Puyol this summer as he announced his retirement from the game. That left them with just Javier Mascherano, who by trade is a midfielder, Gerard Pique and Marc Bartra, who is still quite young.

Man United lost both Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic – two stalwarts of the club – so Louis van Gaal is seeking new blood in defence.

It is understood that while both clubs would like to sign Miranda, neither are happy to pay the release clause of £24 million.