Midfielder Frenkie de Jong has admitted that he always wanted to stay at Barcelona during the summer transfer window amid Manchester United's long-term interest in his signature.
As reported by the Manchester Evening News back in May, United quickly identified the Netherlands international as their top target to strengthen their respective midfield options. De Jong had worked with Reds manager Erik ten Hag at Ajax and the latter was keen for a reunion at Old Trafford.
United agreed a deal with Barcelona to sign De Jong at the end of June, reaching an agreement over an initial €65million (£56.14m) fee. However, the Reds were unable to advance with their quest to sign the 25-year-old because he was owed €17million in deferred wages.
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The Reds, despite chasing the former Ajax ace for more than 100 days, were eventually forced to look elsewhere for midfield reinforcements, signing Casemiro from Real Madrid, though he is a different kind of player to De Jong. The latter is a player that likes to get on the ball and be progressive through the thirds, opposed to sitting deep and doing the ugly side of the game.
Now, though, De Jong has confirmed that he always wanted to stay at the Camp Nou during the transfer window. However, he stopped short of giving away too many specific details about why he was so keen to stay in Spain.
"I always wanted to stay at Barcelona this summer, and this is why I always remained calm in the summer," De Jong told reports during a press conference ahead of the Netherlands' clash with Poland on Thursday evening. "I can't give too many details away.
"But look, the club has its own ideas and I have my own ideas, too, and sometimes these clash with each other. But at the end of the day things went okay."
Despite being intent on staying at Barcelona, De Jong has struggled to nail down a regular place in head coach Xavi's plans so far this term. He has started just half of the Spanish giants' opening six La Liga outings.
"When I play less, I do notice it," added De Jong. "Not really in terms of the technical aspect because you still know how to play football, but more so in the physical aspect."
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