Frenkie de Jong has been involved in first-team training with Barcelona during their pre-season tour of the United States.
The Dutch midfielder has been the subject of prolonged transfer interest from Manchester United. Last week, United CEO Richard Arnold and football director John Murtough left the Catalan capital without a transfer confirmed after several days of trying to clinch a deal to sign De Jong.
An initial transfer fee has been agreed between the two clubs of £56.2million and United will not give up on a deal despite not yet being able to close the transfer. Barca are privately open to his departure despite their stance of insisting he is not for sale and the understanding from United is that a deal is being held up by an outstanding £17million in deferred payments owed to De Jong. Indeed, De Jong slammed Barca by liking an Instagram post which was critical of their treatment of him.
However, for now, United must watch him train with Barca – for whom he is expected to feature against Inter Miami this week. Here are five things we noticed from the Catalan club's training session.
De Jong relaxed
If the Dutch midfielder is angered by Barca’s treatment of him and attempts to sell him this summer, he did not show it in training.
The central midfielder was all smiles and was as relaxed as he has appeared throughout this transfer saga, which has now gone on for over two months. It is likely that he will play for Xavi’s side from the start in their upcoming friendly against Inter Miami.
Memphis involved
Five Barcelona players were left back in Catalonia for this pre-season tour as Xavi instructed the club to find new destinations for them. However, despite the club listening to offers for Memphis – the forward is part of this tour.
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Memphis joined Barca as a free agent from Lyon a year ago and bagged 13 goals in his debut season, but the signings of Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have pushed him down the pecking order at Camp Nou.
New signings involved
Barca have completed a quartet of signings this summer and three of them have been involved in the club’s pre-season preparations.
The club confirmed the arrivals into their first-team squad of Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie as free agents, before signing Raphinha from Leeds and then the signing of Robert Lewandowski was confirmed on Saturday. All new arrivals, apart from Lewandowski – who has just jetted out to meet his new teammates, were involved in the training session.
Aubameyang stakes his claim
The Gabonese striker netted an impressive 13 goals in 23 appearances for Barca after joining from Arsenal as a free agent in January.
However, Lewandowski’s arrival means that he is unlikely to occupy the main central striking role next season – and he is now fighting to show why he is deserving of a spot in the front three of Xavi's side.
Pique front and centre
Gerard Pique has been a mainstay of Barca's first-team for 14 seasons – clocking up more than 600 first-team appearances – but, now aged 35, questions have been asked of his long-term future.
The recent arrival of Christensen, Eric Garcia and the emergence of Ronald Araujo means the club have multiple options in the position – but Pique was front and centre of the training sessions and his status at the club remains as influential as ever.
