Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has admitted that he expected the Catalan giants to try and force him out of the club by frequently leaving him on the bench in recent months.
The Dutchman was heavily linked with a move to Manchester United in the summer transfer window, but a move failed to materialise - despite the two clubs reportedly agreeing a fee for the 25-year-old. De Jong was adamant that he did not want to leave the Camp Nou under any circumstances.
He has since admitted that he was under 'pressure' from newspapers and club president Joan Laporta, but claimed that it never 'baffled' him as he was certain that he would be remaining in Spain.
