Frenkie de Jong breaks silence on failed £104m Chelsea transfer as Todd Boehly informed transfer stance
Frenkie de Jong has revealed that he had no intention of leaving Barcelona this summer.
As the Spanish giants sought to resolve their financial problems, the 25-year-old midfielder was heavily linked with a move to the Premier League.
Chelsea have been interested in signing De Jong for several years and that, despite being confident of landing his signature, a move away from the Camp Nou has yet to materialize.
The Blues were said to be in talks with the Dutch international about a possible move to Stamford Bridge, with former manager Thomas Tuchel looking to bolster his midfield with more creativity.
The wage dispute between player and club was a key factor fueling speculation that De Jong, whose contract at Barcelona expires in 2026, would leave.
According to The Telegraph, the Spanish giants owed him £17 million in deferred wages from the pandemic as of July.
Despite the rumors, the Dutchman revealed in an interview with Ziggo Sport, as reported by Marca, that he decided to stay at Barcelona in May. “I was calm. I decided, in May, that I wanted to stay.
“My opinion has never changed during all this period – I remained calm,” he added. “But then you know that the pressure would start coming. Yes, from the newspapers, from the president. From everywhere in fact. But I wanted to stay at Barça, so it never baffled me.”
The £104million-rated midfielder went on to describe his relationship with Xavi at a time when it appeared from the outside that he faced an uncertain future at Barcelona.
He said: “We don’t talk much with Xavi, but we only talk about football.
“I knew he would play fewer minutes at the beginning of the season. I want to be a starter again. Against Bayern, I wasn’t a starter and I hope to be against Real Madrid. Maybe he already has decided, but usually we don’t know until the day of the game.”
De Jong has appeared seven times for Barcelona in La Liga this season, contributing directly to one goal.
His impressive performances have led the Catalan side to the top of the league, though his performances in the Champions League have been disappointing.
Frenkie de Jong breaks silence on failed £104m Chelsea transfer as Todd Boehly informed transfer stance
