Frenkie de Jong explained to Manchester United great Dwight Yorke that he did not join the Reds last summer because he wanted to see how Xavi's project at Barcelona would materialise.
United's interest in De Jong ran throughout summer 2022 and became one of the window's major sagas, with MEN Sport reporting last May that Erik ten Hag was interested in his compatriot. The two clubs had come to an agreement over a deal worth an initial €65million that June, but failed to agree personal terms with the player between then and the end of the window.
That was partly down to millions of euros De Jong was owed by Barcelona in deferred wages, and the 25-year-old said in September that he 'always wanted to stay at Barcelona'. Yorke claims to have spoken to the midfielder, who personally told him he wanted to test the waters under Xavi before making a decision.
