Barca almost landed him, while Luis Enrique's Italian giants are now in the hunt - but just who is the 21-year-old Gijon native?
With Barcelona fans salivating at the prospect of landing luxury signings from their revered list of targets, los Cules could be forgiven for glossing over their pursuit of Sporting Gijon full-back Jose Angel Valdes.
After all, with Barca currently resting at the pinnacle of the European game, any player with a modicum of ambition wants to test their talents at Camp Nou. But while bids for Cesc Fabregas, Giuseppe Rossi and Alexis Sanchez would provide scintillating alternatives in Pep Guardiola's squad, Jose Angel's addition appears to be rather more functional. The left side has long been an area of weakness for the Catalan giants, and Guardiola wants to inject young blood with a player he believes will be able to fulfil, eventually, what is needed from a full-back at Barcelona.
But just who is this 21-year-old? The stopper is unlikely to be well-known outside Spanish borders - apart from in Rome, where newly-appointed coach Luis Enrique is also thought to be an admirer - but he has quietly turned heads with his understated approach and composure on the left flank for his hometown club of Sporting.
He began his career predominantly employed as a left-midfielder, apparent in the comfortable nature with which he controls the ball, and attempts to build constructively. Ironically, his debut appearance in La Liga for the Asturians arrived in a 3-1 defeat to Barca in 2009, and as he has rose to prominence, he has shown that he has steel on his side - highlighted in his gritty defensive performances in a narrow 1-0 defeat at Camp Nou this season, and also in Sporting's now-infamous win at Santiago Bernabeu that ended Jose Mourinho's nine-year unbeaten record at home. Malaga were alerted to his talents in January, but were unable to complete a deal, and he remained at Sporting - but seems unlikely to hang around for another season.
With Barcelona fans salivating at the prospect of landing luxury signings from their revered list of targets, los Cules could be forgiven for glossing over their pursuit of Sporting Gijon full-back Jose Angel Valdes.
After all, with Barca currently resting at the pinnacle of the European game, any player with a modicum of ambition wants to test their talents at Camp Nou. But while bids for Cesc Fabregas, Giuseppe Rossi and Alexis Sanchez would provide scintillating alternatives in Pep Guardiola's squad, Jose Angel's addition appears to be rather more functional. The left side has long been an area of weakness for the Catalan giants, and Guardiola wants to inject young blood with a player he believes will be able to fulfil, eventually, what is needed from a full-back at Barcelona.
But just who is this 21-year-old? The stopper is unlikely to be well-known outside Spanish borders - apart from in Rome, where newly-appointed coach Luis Enrique is also thought to be an admirer - but he has quietly turned heads with his understated approach and composure on the left flank for his hometown club of Sporting.
He began his career predominantly employed as a left-midfielder, apparent in the comfortable nature with which he controls the ball, and attempts to build constructively. Ironically, his debut appearance in La Liga for the Asturians arrived in a 3-1 defeat to Barca in 2009, and as he has rose to prominence, he has shown that he has steel on his side - highlighted in his gritty defensive performances in a narrow 1-0 defeat at Camp Nou this season, and also in Sporting's now-infamous win at Santiago Bernabeu that ended Jose Mourinho's nine-year unbeaten record at home. Malaga were alerted to his talents in January, but were unable to complete a deal, and he remained at Sporting - but seems unlikely to hang around for another season.
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