Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong says he has no plans to leave Barcelona for Manchester United in the summer.
The Reds had agreed a deal in principle worth around £62m for the 25-year-old in July but the player’s disagreements with his club over wages proved too big a hurdle to overcome, and so United instead ultimately dished out an initial £60m to Real Madrid for Casemiro.
The Manchester Evening News understands that Erik ten Hag is still open to bringing in De Jong this summer with the Reds boss after a midfielder alongside a new striker during the next window, which has been earmarked as the period for the next recruitment drive.
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The playmaker, who featured against United in both legs of Barcelona’s play-off Europa League tie, had always publicly insisted that he wishes to remain at the Nou Camp last summer and has now re-affirmed this preference.
Speaking to Catalan radio station RAC1, De Jong was asked: “We will be quiet this summer, right? No Manchester United, no Erik ten Hag?” The player responded: “I’m very calm, happy. I want to stay at Barcelona for many more years”.
De Jong is an integral part to Xavi’s set-up at Barcelona, who currently lead La Liga by nine points having shipped just eight goals all campaign. He has featured in all but two of their 24 league games this season, scoring twice and assisting once.
Xavi has insisted he had no fears that De Jong was about to leave the club last summer and has indicated that he wishes to keep him for the years to come.
“He [De Jong] was very clear with me. He wanted to stay with us [last summer] and there was no doubt,” he said in his press conference ahead of last month’s Europa League second leg at Old Trafford.
“He is our player and I am very happy and satisfied with his performance and leadership. He is in a great moment, like the whole team. I think he is having a good time well on the field, which is the most important thing.”
Also speaking ahead of the match, Ten Hag said of De Jong: "Frenkie is an incredible player and for every club in the whole world he will strengthen the squad because he has a unique quality. If you can get him in the squad your team will be stronger."
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