Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has admitted that he did have a 'situation' with club president Joan Laporta last summer amid Manchester United's plan to bring him to Old Trafford.
United manager Erik ten Hag, fresh from being appointed, identified De Jong as his top target to strengthen the Reds' midfield options last May and it marked the beginning of a transfer saga that lasted more than 100 days. United, as revealed by the Manchester Evening News at the time, agreed a deal with Barcelona to sign the Dutchman at the end of June, meaning they were confident of landing the Netherlands international.
However, the deal broke down as a result of a dispute over unpaid wages at the Barcelona end. It was understood that De Jong was owed €17million dating back to November 2020 when Barcelona's players agreed to a wage deferral to ease the financial strain caused by Covid-19.
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United, of course, turned to Casemiro to strengthen their midfield options instead, landing him from Real Madrid. Nevertheless, De Jong remains an active target ahead of this summer's window, with the Reds understood to be keen on drafting in a younger central-midfielder.
De Jong, despite the financial uncertainty, always wanted to remain at Barcelona. He has, however, now admitted that there was a 'situation' between himself and Laporta last summer.
"My relationship with the president is good," De Jong told Ziggo Sport Voetbal. "In reality, it has never been bad.
"Of course, there was this situation last summer, but my relationship with him is good."
The Dutchman, 26, worked with Ten Hag at Ajax, of course, and the latter remains keen to be reunited with him at Old Trafford. Signing a new central-midfielder is poised to be one of United's main ambitions this forthcoming summer, though bringing in a striker, of course, is their main objective.
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