Frenkie De Jong insists he never wavered in his decision to stay at Barcelona, despite ‘pressure’ from the Catalan club to leave during the summer.
The Holland star was chased all summer by Manchester United, with Erik ten Hag desperate to build his midfield around the 25-year-old.
Bayern Munich and Chelsea were also credited with an interest, while Barcelona were desperate to sell to help relieve their financial worries.
Barca accepted an offer from United but De Jong was reluctant to leave, especially while he was owed a substantial sum in deferred wages. The La Liga leaders then threatened to take legal action over a contract renewal the player was given by a previous regime, but De Jong stood firm.
“I was calm,” he told Ziggo Sport while reflecting on a fraught summer. “I decided in May that I wanted to stay. My opinion has never changed during this entire period.
“I stayed calm. But then you know the pressure would start to come… Yes, from the newspapers, from the president, exactly. From everywhere actually. But I wanted to stay at Barca so it never baffled me.”
United eventually accepted defeat and spent their money on Casemiro instead. But De Jong may consider changing his mind after a frustrating start to the season.
The midfielder has started only four games in the Champions League and La Liga, sitting on the bench for Barca’s biggest games. De Jong looks set to start Sunday’s Clasico against Real Madrid as a substitute, with Pedri, Gavi and Sergio Busquets preferred by Xavi.
“I want to be a starter again. Against Bayern, I was not a starter and I hope to be against Real Madrid. Maybe he [Xavi] has already decided, but normally we don’t know until the day of the game.”
De Jong has been reassured over his Holland place ahead of the World Cup but Louis van Gaal has warned the midfielder to maintain his fitness.
“I have let go of that dogma [only picking players who play regularly for their club] for a long time, otherwise I would not have selected Steven Bergwijn, for example. Memphis Depay and De Jong are two very important players who have left.
“I have encouraged them: I will keep a place for you for as long as possible. free, but you have to be fit. The fact that the Dutch national team is not a rehabilitation centre certainly applies to the World Cup, but I have to trust that they are fit when they say that.
“They have meant so much to this Dutch team, I have to reserve a place for that. Because we are 26,…
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