Barcelona face seven-club battle for highly rated Twente defender Rod Naistad

Barcelona’s attempt to sign Twente’s teenage defender Rod Naistad has been complicated by growing interest from the Premier League, with Manchester United joining six other English clubs in the race for the 18-year-old.

Manchester United have received favourable reports on Naistad’s ability and the defender is highly regarded by the club’s scouting department, according to Sport.

The list of other interested sides includes Manchester City, Aston Villa, Newcastle, Brentford, Everton and Sunderland.

Barcelona had already taken steps to bring Naistad to Spain and made an offer worth about 8m euros during the summer. However, Twente rejected the proposal and remain under no immediate pressure to sell a player they regard as one of the promising talents capable of contributing to the club’s future.

Naistad’s physical and technical profile is understood to have attracted Barcelona’s sporting department. He is 1.95m tall, left-footed and comfortable helping to build attacks from defence, while his strength is another notable part of his game.

Those qualities fit Barcelona’s desire to strengthen their defence with young players who can continue to develop over the long term. The club’s interest is not new, with contact between the two parties taking place in recent months.

Naistad has also spoken publicly about Barcelona’s interest. He described the Catalan club as one of the biggest in the world, suggesting he could be receptive to a move to Camp Nou.

The arrival of Manchester United and the attention from the other Premier League clubs nevertheless gives Barcelona a fresh challenge in negotiations. Twente are in a strong position because Naistad’s contract runs until June 2029, reducing any pressure to agree to a quick sale.

That long-term deal could also strengthen the Dutch club’s position as competition for the defender increases. Barcelona’s previous offer of about 8m euros was not enough to convince Twente to part with him, and the growing list of English admirers could make an agreement more difficult and potentially more expensive for the Spanish club.