Ander Herrera will snub any approach from Barcelona to lure him to the Nou Camp from Manchester United.
Reports from the Catalan capital have suggested the 27-year-old is a priority for incoming manager Ernesto Valverde’s.
Valverde, who Herrera cites as one of the biggest influences on his career, succeeds Luis Enrique and is charged with winning back La Liga from Real Madrid and dislodging them in the Champions League rankings. Real contest this Saturday’s final in Cardiff against Juventus.
Valverde is understood to have identified Herrera as the dynamo in the engine room to provide the base for Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar to revive Barca post-Enrique.
Valverde was Herrera’s manager at Athletic Bilbao in the 2013-14 season before he moved to Old Trafford for £27m in Louis van Gaal’s era.
And Herrera has recently hailed Valverde when he was listing the influences on his career saying, “Valverde made the biggest impression on me due to the way he was in the dressing room and because he’s a fantastic guy. Not just in terms of football, but for his way of being, the way he was in the dressing room, working with those that did and didn’t play. He is a crack.”
Herrera broke into the Spain squad this season but was then left out 10 days ago by manager Julen Lopetegui for a friendly against Colombia ahead of a World Cup qualifiers versus Macedonia.
However, Valverde is reported to want United’s recently crowned Player of the Season at the club’s awards evening.
Herrera was also named Man of the Match in the Reds Europa League final win against Ajax in Stockholm.
Only Paul Pogba made more appearances for Jose Mourinho this season and the pair have cemented their roles at the heart of the United manager’s midfield.
Herrera signed a four-year contract when he signed from Bilbao to 2018 with an extra year’s option.
But United needn’t worry about Barcelona circling and taking him back to Spain because Herrera is understood to have no desire to quit Old Trafford and move to the Nou Camp.
Support InfoStride News' Credible Journalism: Only credible journalism can guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent society, including democracy and government. It involves a lot of efforts and money. We need your support. Click here to Donate