Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has claimed that "there has been a campaign" in the media that has spread lies about him amid Manchester United's transfer interest in the player.
United heavily pursued a deal for De Jong over the course of the summer, as the transfer saga dominated the headlines. Erik ten Hag was eager to reunite with his former Ajax player at Old Trafford, yet a deal failed to materialise.
Barcelona and United even got as far as agreeing terms for the midfielder, but little progress appeared to be made following the early breakthrough in negotiations.
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The deal was made even more strenuous following an apparent legal complication surrounding money allegedly owed to the Dutch player from the Spanish club. The wages of the 25-year-old have been a big talking point surrounding any potential deal, and now the former Barcelona man has spoken out over the rumoured salary he is seemingly earning.
During an interview with Dutch outlet Ziggo Sport, De Jong hit back when he was asked if it was a burden being the best-paid player at Barcelona since Lionel Messi's departure.
He said: "I don't think I am. There has been a campaign. Look, I never spoke a word myself. But the club is spreading, or the media that's part of the club, has been spreading lies and a lot is fake.
"In each of the first three years I played here, I cut my salary. So eventually money has to come back and it will drop on your normal salary so of course it will look bigger. I think many people don't understand this, the numbers the media are spreading are fake."
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