Jules Kounde was sent off in Sevilla’s match against Barcelona on Tuesday night in bizarre circumstances.
Kounde has been linked with a high-profile move to the Premier League recently, with Manchester United and Chelsea both reportedly keeping tabs on his progress.
Potential suitors may not have been impressed by what they saw against Barca, with the Frenchman’s temper getting the better of him.
Sevilla took the lead from Alejandro Gomez’s finish from a well-worked corner routine before Ronald Araujo equalised with a header.
But the home team’s chances of winning were severely hampered by Kounde’s decision to lash out at Jordi Alba in the 64th minute.
Kounde was under pressure from Alba and Gavi when he went to take a throw-in inside Barca territory.
Alba barged into the 23-year-old as he attempted to keep play moving quickly, prompting Kounde to launch the ball into the Barca left-back’s face from point blank range.
Referee Carlos del Cerro Grande was on the scene almost immediately and did not hesitate, showing Kounde a straight red card.
The Sevilla defender protested his innocence, but it was no good, as he left his team-mates a man short for more than 25 minutes.
Barca could not press home their numerical advantage, as Gavi steered a header wide and Ousmane Dembele struck the post.
But Kounde’s ill-discipline could still have further repercussions, with a suspension incoming for the France international.
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The defender, who can play centre-back or right-back, was desperate to leave Sevilla in the summer, with Chelsea close to getting a deal over the line.
Ultimately the transfer never materialised, with Sevilla sporting director Monchi playing hardball over the fee, demanding his full release clause of £68million, rather than the £50m which had reportedly been offered.
However, a long-awaited move to the Premier League has been touted in January, with Chelsea still interested and United hovering too.
According to Spanish outlet AS, United are ready to battle Chelsea for Kounde’s signature, despite completing the signing of Raphael Varane from Real Madrid in the summer.
Kounde’s ability to play right-back could be crucial, given United’s interest in signing Atletico Madrid full-back Kieran Trippier in the summer.
Former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was keen to recruit Trippier to provide competition for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, although his departure and Diogo Dalot’s emergence under Ralf Rangnick could have changed that stance.
Sevilla are second in La Liga, 10 points ahead of seventh-placed Barca, who are yet to turn around their indifferent form under Xavi’s management.
