Frenkie De Jong’s private Man Utd conversation may have ended Erik ten Hag hopes once and for all
Manchester United’s chances of securing a transfer for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie De Jong this summer may have been completely dashed.
Last summer, the Red Devils made several attempts to sign the Dutch playmaker and reunite him with his former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag. However, De Jong decided to stay in La Liga due to a financial disagreement with his employers.
Despite Manchester United’s signings of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen to strengthen their midfield options, as well as the loan addition of Marcel Sabitzer in January, reports suggest that their interest in Frenkie De Jong remains strong.
It is unclear whether the Dutch midfielder would consider a move to Old Trafford in the summer, but former Manchester United player Dwight Yorke has disclosed a conversation with De Jong that has raised doubts about his willingness to leave Barcelona.
“I actually spoke to Frenkie De Jong when we played against him in the A-League All-Stars game in Australia [in May 2022],” Yorke told Premier League Odds. “I have a little bit of insight, he wanted to see what Barcelona would become under the new guidance of Xavi and see how that panned out before he decided if he wanted to join Manchester United.
“But there is a Dutch connection with Erik Ten Hag, De Jong would be a great pick because he’s an excellent player. He would be the player that would fit into that midfield net to Casemiro and give us a bit more stability. Manchester United would have a very solid core to the team if he was to join.”
Frenkie De Jong allowed Xavi and Barcelona some time to assess the club’s direction, and it appears to have paid off as the Barcelona icon has led the team to a comfortable nine-point lead at the top of La Liga.
Additionally, the Catalan side is well-positioned to reach the Copa del Rey final after securing a 1-0 lead over Real Madrid in the first leg of the semi-finals at the Bernabeu.
Although Manchester United eliminated Barcelona from both the Champions League and Europa League in recent years, Frenkie De Jong has emerged as a crucial player for a team that is currently on track to win the La Liga title. As a result, he is likely to have been impressed by the start of Xavi’s reign at Barcelona, and it’s possible that he has decided against a move to United.
Dwight Yorke provided more details about his conversation with Frenkie De Jong over the summer, stating that the availability of Champions League football would have been a significant factor in the Dutchman’s decision to stay at Barcelona and not move to another club.
“I had a conversation with Frenkie De Jong at the All-Star game, and you know before that would’ve been a done deal [De Jong to United],” Yorke told SafeBettingSites in August.
“And you look at his circumstances where he’s playing with a massive club and even though the money is an issue he has the opportunity to play Champions League football there.
“The players we are chasing are in such powerful positions it’s very difficult to lure them away to come to United. The club have kicked themselves in the teeth and can’t attract the best players any more, no Champions League football is a serious issue and it’s getting more and more difficult by the year.”
Frenkie De Jong’s private Man Utd conversation may have ended Erik ten Hag hopes once and for all
