La Liga president Javier Tebas has sent a warning to Barcelona over their handling of Frenkie de Jong.
Manchester United are embroiled in a long-running transfer saga with Barca and the Dutch midfielder after Erik ten Hag highlighted the 25-year-old as a key target. In June, United agreed a deal in principle for De Jong with the Catalan club.
However since then, progress over the transfer has stalled. It is understood that De Jong's preference is to stay at Barcelona, and even if he were to leave he would not do so until €17m in unpaid wages is paid to him.
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When asked about the current situation surrounding De Jong, Tebas sent a warning to the La Liga side about their actions moving forwards. He said: "What La Liga is going to do is to comply with our collective agreement with the Association of Spanish Footballers.
"The players cannot be split from the team or pressured. It is what the collective agreement, the law, reason and ethics mark. From there, Barcelona knows the rules and the responsibilities that exist in that aspect."
This week United legend Gary Neville said that De Jong should take legal action against Barcelona over their failure to pay the Dutchman the wages he is owed, while at the same time going on a spending spree that has seen them sign Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha.
Neville tweeted: "De Jong should consider legal action v Barcelona and all players should be behind him! A club spending fortunes on new players whilst not paying the ones they have under contract their full money is immoral and a breach. @FIFPRO should be all over bullying like this and stop it."
Tebas went on to claim that he has been impressed by the work Barcelona president Joan Laporta had done since the end of last season and explain how they have been able to spend big despite being in massive debt.
"We've been following them, but when they show us the documentation of the income and some players they have to sell, we will see if they can sign everyone up," he added. "They know what they have to do. I think they have a little work left for everything they have to do, but I think they are on the right track.
"They have sold 10% of their audiovisual rights for 207 million euros. Then they increased that part to 25%, which I think means about 350 more. That would already be 500 million euros and I think they still have another third income for another 200. With this and if they release some players, that explains their signings. They have been able to sell assets, which was something they had to do, and cut wages. That's what allows them to sign players."
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