Manchester United were linked with a move for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong for a long time, but it never materialised.
Frenkie de Jong has been linked with a move to Old Trafford for a long time. But he has ended up staying at Barcelona, insisting he is committed to his dream club. The Dutchman has now opened up on his links with Manchester United.
The Dutch international is undoubtedly one of the best midfielders in Europe right now, and he could prove to be a quality acquisition for the Red Devils. But he has always prioritised staying at Barcelona over joining Manchester United or another suitor.
Manchester United are in desperate need of central midfield reinforcements and it remains to be seen whether they can get a deal done. The recent comments from the Dutch international midfielder might come as a blow for the Premier League giants though. He has revealed that he is happy at Barcelona and he wants to compete for major trophies with them.
“I am at the club where I always wanted to be, where I dreamed of,” he told NOS. “As a footballer you want to win the big prizes, I haven’t won them yet. I have not yet won the trophies I want to win and I am not yet the player I want to be. There is still room for improvement, and I still have time, but I would like to get there as quickly as possible.”
Asked whether a move to a new league could benefit him, he added, “Possibly, but I am very satisfied at Barcelona. It’s always difficult to say. For now I feel good here.”
It will be interesting to see if Manchester United can convince Frenkie de Jong to join them in the coming weeks. They have tried to convince him in the past, but the player turned down and moved to Old Trafford. Manchester United had previously agreed on a deal with Barcelona to sign the player only for the player to snub the transfer.
Manchester United need someone who can control the tempo of the game and dominate proceedings in the middle of the park. The 26-year-old would be a superb addition for them, and he could transform Manchester United in the midfield.
He has worked with the Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag during their time together at Ajax, and he should be able to settle into the Dutch manager’s system quickly and adapt to Manchester United’s way of playing.
The opportunity to reunite with his former charge will be an attractive option for the Manchester United manager as well. He knows that his side is in need of a midfield controller, and the 26-year-old would be the ideal fit.
Meanwhile, Barcelona are going through financial difficulties and it remains to be seen whether Manchester United can convince them with a lucrative offer in the coming weeks. But for all intents and purposes, a move is not on the cards.
