Joan Laporta and Xavi Hernandez have issued updates on the situation of Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who is linked with Manchester United.
Speaking to ESPN (h/t The Athletic), Barcelona president Joan Laporta has opened up on the future of exit-linked midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who is a transfer target for Manchester United.
De Jong has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United all summer. The 25-year-old is being forced out of Camp Nou as they look to get his massive wages off their payroll while also raking in funds from his sale.
Reports have indicated that Manchester United and Barcelona already have an agreement over a deal worth €85 million for de Jong. However, the midfielder is reluctant to leave Camp Nou for Old Trafford, which has brought the operation to a complete standstill.
However, Laporta continues to decline these speculations, claiming that the Blaugrana have not accepted any offers for de Jong and view him as a key part of the club’s plans.
Joan Laporta tells @carodelas: "Frenkie de Jong is our player, we really like him. We received some offers for Frenkie but we didn't accept as of now, as we want to talk with him and know exactly what he wants" ??? #FCB
"We need to clarify some aspects of his situation". #MUFC pic.twitter.com/TM1hwyHzVu
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 24, 2022
“He’s our player, he’s a high-quality player. We like him very much. We have to clarify some aspects of his position but right now he’s playing for Barcelona. He has some offers but at the moment we didn’t accept the offers because we want to talk to him to know exactly what he wants,” he said.
Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has used de Jong in an unfamiliar position as a centre-back in the pre-season friendlies so far, which has been seen as a tactic from the club to force the Netherlands international out of the club. However, Xavi has downplayed the situation, stating that he is not sending a message to the Dutchman, who can offer something to the team in the centre-half role.
“I’m not here to send messages. I already spoke with Frenkie, I value him very much. He’s key player, but then there’s economic situation and Financial Fair Play… He can give us a lot also as a centre-back,” Xavi said, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano.
Barcelona are keen to sell de Jong this summer. If he does not plan on leaving, the club want him to take a massive pay cut as they need to create space on their wage bill for the new arrivals. It remains to be seen if the Dutchman changes his stance on his future as links to Manchester United continue to do the rounds.