The name Alex Collado suddenly became a hot topic among Sheffield United fans towards the back end of the summer transfer window. The Barcelona man was apparently close to joining the Blades, before last minute changes of heart and terms scuppered the deal.
However, since the summer, he has remained in the news. Collado wasn’t registered in time by Barcelona. He has, therefore, been forced to sit things out this season. He can’t even play for the B-team.
Under Ronald Koeman, Collado was clear about his situation. The Dutch coach didn’t want him, and a loan move was seen as the best solution. As we know, the one to Bramall Lane collapsed, leaving the Spaniard in limbo.
But with Koeman now gone, and former Barca midfielder Xavi now in charge at the Camp Nou, Collado’s future could be quite different. There is still talk of a January loan move. But that’s looking increasingly less likely to be to Sheffield United.
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Xavi to Rebuild Barcelona
The Spanish legend takes charge of a Barcelona team suffering. Off the field, they have financial woes most clubs wouldn’t think imaginable. On the pitch, they linger in mid-table, some 11 points behind top spot.
Xavi’s challenge, then, is to get the best out of what’s already there. And that could include using La Masia and the B-team to full effect. Collado, then, could well end up getting his chance under the new Barcelona coach.
A graduate of the famous Barca academy himself, Xavi knows more than most the benefits of developing from within. Collado, like many, is highly-rated and is eagerly awaiting his chance.
As time moves on, it seems less and less likely that United will be the next destination for Collado. Xavi will likely want to keep a close eye on him, and a former teammate, Gerard Pique, is keen to take him to his own club.
Time will tell, of course. But this feels like one that got away for Sheffield United. For Collado, though, it’s a fresh chance to impress a new manager and finally kickstart his career.
