Frenkie de Jong has dealt Manchester United a big transfer blow in their long-running pursuit to sign the midfielder, after reportedly admitting that he ‘wants to continue’ at Barcelona.
Erik ten Hag has been a long-standing admirer of the Dutch midfielder since he coached the 25-year-old at Ajax and was keen on acquiring the central midfielder last summer.
With his contract expiring in 2026, De Jong ultimately opted to stay at the Nou Camp last summer and speculation around a potential move to Old Trafford has been bubbling again recently with Sportsmail reporting last week that Man United would be ‘reigniting’ their interest to sign him.
Yet, De Jong has now poured cold water on those rumours, claiming that he ‘wants to succeed’ at Barcelona.
‘Last summer I was always calm as I knew I would stay at Barca and I never changed my mind,’ De Jong said in an interview with RAC1 when asked on a potential move to the Premier League.
Frenkie de Jong has said he ‘wants to continue’ to play for Barcelona amid transfer speculation
His comments will be a big blow to Man United boss Erik ten Hag who was keen on signing him
‘I always dreamed of playing for Barca and I want to succeed here. I want to continue here.’
It will come as a big blow for Ten Hag, who’s side are set to battle it out this summer against Liverpool and Chelsea as they all look to enter the market for a new midfielder.
The Dutchman was supposedly keen on moving to United, and had told the United coach that he wanted to join the club as he was interested in playing alongside former Madrid man Casemiro in Erik Ten Hag’s midfield.
Yet, despite Barcelona’s poor recent form in Europe, he admitted he was benefitting from playing at the base of Xavi’s new midfield system alongside Sergio Busquets, Gavi and Franck Kessie.
‘This new system benefits me,’ he said. ‘I’m playing more in the base of midfield, which is where I feel most comfortable. I have more freedom.’
De Jong also admitted he’d been ‘benefitting’ from playing in Xavi’s four-man midfield system
He had featured in Barcelona’s 2-1 Europa League defeat by Manchester United in February
He also said that playing next to Sergio Busquets in the Barcelona midfield gave him ‘a lot of peace of mind’.
‘He [Busquets] gives the team a lot of peace of mind, he is very safe with the ball and defensively he is much better than people think. He cuts a lot of balls, wins practically all the duels, and helps me a lot.’
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