Barcelona president Joan Laporta said that the Spanish club "did well" not to sell midfielder Frenkie de Jong last summer amid Manchester United's interest in his signature.
United identified De Jong as their leading midfield target ahead of last summer's transfer window officially opening. Manager Erik ten Hag wanted to be reunited with the Netherlands international after he had worked with him at Ajax.
After several weeks of negotiations and talks between the two clubs, United agreed a deal in principle with Barcelona at the end of June. The Reds were understood to have agreed an initial price of €65million (£56.14m) plus add-ons.
