Barcelona have directly told Frenkie de Jong they need him to go, as Manchester United's planned signing continues to draw out.
Such is the pressure on the player that Camp Nou teammates feel he is being treated unfairly by the club, and there is considerable sympathy for him. While De Jong accepts the reality of the situation and has spoken to Erik ten Hag about a move, his first choice has always been to stay at Barcelona, but his resistance to an exit has only been emboldened by the fact the club would owe him €17m in deferred wages if he stays.
