United £25m Brazilian Playmaker Target Rules Out Spanish Move

Manchester United target Ganso has ruled out a move to Barcelona, though the playmaker has admitted he would love to play for the Catalan giants for just one game to stand up alongside the world's best.

Sir Alex Ferguson has long been keeping an eye on the Brazil international, and at the age of just 22, Ganso was touted as a possible long-term replacement for Paul Scholes at the end of last season.

But South American outfit Santos have fought hard to keep Santos from United's clutches, along with Chelsea and Barcelona target Neymar, and both starlets have committed their futures to Brazil this year.

And the man labelled by some media outlets as the 'new Kaka', who has been scouted by United numerous times, said that while he doesn't want to play for Barcelona, he would love to experience running on the pitch with some of the globe's top players.

"I do not aspire to move to Barcelona, but I would love to play for them for just one game," Ganso told TV3.

"I just want to know how it feels to play with such fantastic players. They are all amazing players. [Sergio] Busquets is a superb player and so are Xavi and [Andres] Iniesta."

United were warned by Ganso in the summer that he wasn't ready to leave Santos, with Real Madrid and AC Milan also said to be showing interest in the youngster.

Ferguson admitted in preparation for the January transfer window that United do have 'two or three' targets in mind, but the manager insisted that it is very hard to purchase a player during mid-season.

But with Darren Fletcher now the ninth injured senior player for United, the club's midfield department is seriously lacking, and Ferguson's hand may be forced into chasing targets such as Ganso with big-money offers.

Wesley Sneijder is still being connected to the English giants, and Mario Gotze is a name that continues to come up as January edges closer. Christian Erisken was also flagged by United's assistant coach as a player who is being watched.

But Ganso looks a lot less likely than Erikson or Gotze to move to United within the next year, with Santos fighting particularly hard to keep hold of their stars.