Deco insists the club are not looking to sell ‘present and future’ Barcelona duo Ronald Araujo and Frenkie de Jong amid Premier League links.
As the summer window inches closer, a lot of the focus will fall on Barcelona and its ideas in the market. The Catalans are still embroiled in financial issues that have led to speculation they might look to sell some of their prized assets.
Should that happen, many of their rivals will be eager to lay their hands on stars like Ronald Araujo and Frenkie de Jong, among others. Manchester United are keen on the duo, with Erik ten Hag a big fan of their talents, while other big rivals might also come into the picture.
For instance, De Jong has plenty of suitors in the Premier League, while Araujo also has suitors from outside of England, with Bayern Munich keen on the defender. Either way, Barcelona will extract a considerable transfer value should they sell the duo, which will help them massively solve their financial troubles.
While the likes of Manchester United had hoped to see at least one of those become available for sale, director Deco has poured cold water on their plans and those of other clubs. In his comments that appeared on Goal, the former midfielder claimed Barcelona are keen to keep the duo and consider them ‘present and future.
Deco said, “What will happen to Araujo and De Jong? Nothing will happen. They have a contract, and we want to keep the best. And they are the best. They are footballers of the present and the future. They are players who have earned the right to be at Barca, and they have earned the respect of the fans and the club. We want to continue counting on them.”
De Jong’s situation is quite complex among the two stars, considering Barcelona already offered him a new deal three months ago. The midfielder has not penned fresh terms and might look for a more significant contract to seal his future.
Hence, there are rumours that the midfielder is considering an exit in the summer, something Barcelona might reportedly consider if De Jong’s stance remains unchanged. Manchester City and Arsenal are a few of the sides keen on the Dutchman should he become available, although he does wish to stay with Barcelona and has no interest in leaving despite the links.
Meanwhile, Araujo is considered one of the best defenders in the world right now, and Barcelona, if they are to sell him, will demand a massive fee. However, both players do not intend to leave the club as they seemingly live the dream in Catalonia.
While Deco’s comments may have some weight, many things could change when the summer window opens. Barcelona’s precarious financial state might see them consider offers for many players, including the duo, as they might turn their heads towards crazy offers should they arrive from the Premier League.
