Brazil striker 'banned for two years' amid Manchester United transfer links

Manchester United-linked Gabriel Barbosa has been banned from football for two years following a doping fraud investigation, which he will appeal.

Reports last year claimed that United were interested in signing the Brazil striker in a potential swap deal with Antony. However, Flamengo's vice president rubbished those claims, saying there is "zero chance" of a deal happening.

The 27-year-old, nicknamed Gabigol for his goalscoring record, has scored over 140 times for Flamengo over a five-year period. But he now faces a lengthy ban from the game after being suspended until April 2025, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) set to hear his appeal, according to Globo.

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It is said that the player brought attention to himself by his erratic behaviour during a test on April 8, 2023. Anti-doping officers who came to test players at the club training ground were largely ignored by Barbosa, who took his test hours after his teammates.

Barbosa's lawyers argued his blood test at the time proved he was clean. They add that his unfriendly behaviour toward the officers did not mean he tricked the test.

Flamengo have also defended the player in a statement. They said: "There was no fraud, not even an attempted fraud.

"The club received the decision with surprise and will help the athlete in his representation at the Court for Arbitration of Sport," it added.

Barbosa wrote on Instagram: "Since the beginning of my career as a football player, I have always followed the rules of the game and never used prohibited substances.

"I have already