Frenkie de Jong has reiterated his desire to remain at Barcelona this summer, despite ongoing interest from Manchester United. The Dutch midfielder, who has been linked with a move to Old Trafford since 2022. Appears content at Camp Nou, even after a rocky period with the Catalan club.
Back in 2022, De Jong’s future was in doubt when Barcelona reportedly agreed to sell him to United for around-£56-million. The deal ultimately fell through due to unresolved personal terms, leaving De Jong frustrated with his club. The situation reportedly left him “very upset,” as he believed Barcelona’s decision to put him on transfer-list damaged his reputation.
However, it seems that the relationship between De Jong and Barcelona has since improved. Despite rumors that the club is open to selling him again, this time for a reduced fee of £51 million. De Jong has expressed his happiness at staying in Spain.
“Staying at Barca? Yes, I’m very happy in Barcelona with my family, for sure,” De Jong stated. He also mentioned a positive conversation with new Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, who replaced Xavi, adding, “Hansi Flick wants me to be key? I talked to him. It was good.”
De Jong’s contract with Barcelona runs until 2026, and while there have been no negotiations for a new deal, the 27-year-old seems focused on his role with the team. However, with competition for midfield positions from players like Pedri, Gavi, Fermin Lopez, and Ilkay Gundogan, it’s uncertain how central De Jong will be to Flick’s plans.
Erik ten Hag, who managed De Jong at Ajax, has long been keen on reuniting with midfielder at Manchester United. Ten Hag previously revealed that De Jong was a key part of his vision for United’s midfield, stating. “It would have been Frenkie de Jong and Casemiro [in the middle]. They would truly connect with each other. They would be really complementary to each other.”
United has already made significant investments this transfer window, including the £36.5 million signing of Joshua Zirkzee and the £58 million acquisition of Leny Yoro. Additionally, De Jong’s former Ajax teammates Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui are set to join the club soon.
While De Jong remains committed to Barcelona, the ongoing interest from Manchester United and the player’s strong relationship with Ten Hag mean that his future could still hold surprises. If he does decide to make the switch, De Jong would join a growing list of former Ajax stars who have followed Ten Hag to Old Trafford.
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