Barcelona Transfer News: Marc Bartra Talks Future Amid Manchester United Rumours

Marc Bartra is prepared to ignore the advances of Manchester United in his bid to become a Barcelona regular following speculation the Red Devils are interested in moving for the centre-back.

Speaking to FourFourTwo this week, the Spain international confessed he enjoys watching the Premier League, but his only desire is to become a mainstay at the Camp Nou (h/t Spanish newspaper Sport):

“I like to watch the Premier League. English football is a little anarchic, full of one-v-ones. I like that, but my heart is in Barca. My aim is to become a titular (regular starter) at Barca, to start the most important games and to win trophies."

Doug Benc/Associated Press

Bartra has started just six games for the Blaugrana this season, leading to rumours that he could leave Barcelona, where his current contract is set to expire in the summer of 2017.

The 24-year-old recently became the first client to go on the books of former Barca defender Carles Puyol, who is now a fully qualified agent. According to Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo, this could have aided the Red Devils in cutting a deal for the player (h/t James Dickenson of the Daily Express).

Gerard Pique, Javier Mascherano and Jeremy Mathieu all sit ahead of Bartra at centre-back, while a fully fit Thomas Vermaelen would also rank above the academy product in manager Luis Enrique's list of options.

Bartra was left out of Saturday's squad to face Real Madrid in El Clasico, a decision described as "surprising" by Spanish football expert Sergi Dominguez:

Manchester United might have been hopeful of landing the player given his struggles at Barcelona, but it seems even a substantial lack of playing time isn't enough to extinguish the player's dream of playing a leading role for the Catalans.

The defender isn't without his talents, either. ESPN's John Brewin took note of the fact Bartra can't claim a starting spot at club level, but took his place in Spain's XI for their recent 2-0 defeat of England:

Even though there is plenty of competition at Barcelona, there's no guarantee Bartra would fare much better at Old Trafford if he did complete a transfer to United.

Chris Smalling and Daley Blind have established themselves as the clear first-choice picks in central defence, while Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo would not be pushovers in the pecking order.

The Spaniard may also be holding out in the long run as Mathieu, 32, Mascherano, 31, and Vermaelen, 30, each tick toward the latter ends of their careers.

Bartra was just 11 years old when United manager Louis van Gaal took over at the Barca helm in 2002, but it appears unlikely the pair will be united in Manchester as long as the defender remains devoted to his Blaugrana dream.