CRACKS BEGIN TO APPEAR AT OLD TRAFFORD

United’s Spanish stars angry at being ‘treated differently’ in contract talks

SPANISH-SPEAKING stars at Manchester United feel preferential treatment is being given to the club’s English players — leaving Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with a problem of dressing-room harmony in the closing weeks of the season.

David de Gea, Ander Herrera and Juan Mata believe they are being treated differently as United attempt to return to the ‘home-based’ strategy that made them successful under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Luke Shaw, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Ashley Young have all signed new contracts at Old

Trafford this season but there has been no similar agreement with the Spanish contingent.

Herrera, 29, is close to joining Paris Saint-Germain having failed to reach terms with United, amid briefings the midfielder was asking for too much money.

De Gea, 28, considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world despite his blunder against Barcelona last week, will enter the final year of his United deal at the end of the season despite protracted negotiations.

Mata, 30, is also due to leave and is yet to renew his stay.

In addition to the ‘three amigos’, Chile international Alexis Sanchez — a close friend of Herrera — has unsettled United staff with the odd temper tantrum during a frustrating season for the former Arsenal forward.

Though Mata and Herrera are popular members of the squad, the Spanish speakers have formed their own little clique at United.

In general, the club have failed to assimilate their Latin players over the long term, compared with Manchester City, for whom David Silva and Sergio Aguero have been instrumental over several years.

United want to promote academy and British players as part of the club’s DNA, having had their fingers burnt in the transfer market under Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho. But as they attempt to strike the right balance, there is a risk it could put off overseas targets.

The aggrieved Spaniards have left Paul Pogba in a difficult position with a foot in each camp.

The French World Cup winner grew up as a trainee in Manchester, alongside English players such as Jesse Lingard, but has also established close friendships with the foreign legion.

Solskjaer won’t flood the club with new signings this summer — because he doesn’t want to block the progress of United youngsters already at the club.

Though the United manager has promised spending at Old Trafford after another disappointing season, he insists there will be fewer than six new arrivals and cited the examples of Marcus Rashford, Diogo Dalot and 17year-old starlet Mason Greenwood to explain.

“I don’t think you can expect six players coming in — I know there won’t be six players coming in,” said the Norwegian. “We can’t just take players in because we need a body.

“Mason Greenwood is a player for me — he is 17 and I want to give him the chance to become a top player at this club.

“It’s the same with Marcus Rashford at 21 and Diogo Dalot at 20. These players are going to get a chance and that is going to affect players who are at the other end of their careers.

“It means you don’t want too many changes with signings and you have to say to players at the other end of their careers: “I don’t think you’re for me”.”

United’s history has been synonymous with giving young players their chance and Solskjaer will be keen to bring that philosophy back, particularly at a time when rivals Manchester City and Chelsea are criticised for restricting the opportunities for talented teenagers Phil Foden and Callum Hudson-Odoi.