Frenkie de Jong comments hint at Man Utd transfer
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 4 Jun 2022 13:04 BST
- 3 min read
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong dropped a hint that he is willing to leave the Camp Nou side this summer, with Manchester United still very interested in a transfer for the 25-year-old.
De Jong has been earmarked as a priority signing for new Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag, yet there have been fears that he may wish to remain with Barca given the prospects of Champions League football.
However, all is not necessarily ideal for the former Ajax man in Spain currently, as he stated following the Netherlands’ stunning 4-1 Nations League success over Belgium on Friday.
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De Jong gave an eye-catching performance in that encounter, in which he played a far more active role in the construction of play than the one he does with Barcelona. And he said it is one that suits him better.
“'I like to be the first player to receive the ball from the defenders. In the national team I play differently compared to Barca. And I think this one fits me better,” he told NOS.
Why Man Utd fans should be excited
De Jong’s words suggest that he would be happier – in playing style, at least – at Manchester United than Barcelona.
With the Catalans, he is vying with the likes of Gavi and Sergio Busquets to be the player that the team pivots around, but at Old Trafford he would be hand picked to play just the role that he prefers.
On top of this, there is mounting evidence that suggests that Barcelona will have to sell him in the summer.
The club’s decision not to go ahead with the CVC television rights deal means that they face a significant shortfall in their finances, which could be partially plugged by his transfer to Man Utd. Certainly, that looks like a necessity if Barca still have ambitions of signing Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich.
De Jong’s transfer to Man Utd, therefore, grows ever closer.
