Manchester United duo Alessia Russo and Ona Batlle will leave the club upon the expiry of their contracts at the end of this month.
Russo, 24, starred for United and scored 10 Women’s Super League goals as Marc Skinner’s side finished second in the division, their highest-ever finish.
The England international was the subject of a £500,000 world-record bid from Arsenal in January but no move transpired. Arsenal remain interested in Russo and are considered the favourites to sign her once her United contract runs out.
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Russo had been in contract talks with United, who she joined in 2020, but no agreement was reached over a deal.
She has been named in England’s 23-player squad for this summer’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
It’s been the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make.@ManUtdWomen, thank you for everything ❤️ pic.twitter.com/kzvQ0zgL9V
— Alessia Russo (@alessiarusso7) June 16, 2023
Her United team-mate Batlle is also set to leave and is expected to join Barcelona.
The 24-year-old, who also signed for the club in 2020, will depart after a successful spell at the north west club.
She arrived from Levante and made an instant impact, being named as United women’s player of the year for the 2020-21 season.
Batlle came through the ranks at Barcelona before joining Madrid CFF in 2017. Barcelona won Liga F and the Champions League this season, while United will embark on their first campaign in Europe’s elite club competition in 2023-24.
She made 19 appearances in the WSL this season, scoring once and assisting nine times.
Asked about Russo and Batlle at the end of the season, Skinner said: “The business team are working really hard to make sure (they stay).
“But if that doesn’t happen and they don’t stay here, then we’ll go into the market to recruit, because we’ll have to.
“Our team is not about any one player. It’s bigger than anybody involved in the club. I hope they stay, but if I was them, I don’t think I’d want to leave this team, in my opinion, because of what we’re achieving and what we’re doing.”
San Diego Wave boss Casey Stoney, who managed Russo at United, hinted she will remain in WSL.
“I have very good relationship with Alessia. If she was coming here we would be in the conversation,” she said on Thursday night.
“So when it comes to players like that, you’re already having a conversation. You’re already making sure that you’re on the table when it comes to making a decision. She is not coming here.”
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Additional reporting: Florence Lloyd-Hughes
(Photo: Charlotte Tattersall – MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images)