Why De Jong to Man Utd looks unlikely after Xavi hint

Robin Bairner

• 21 Oct 2022 08:40 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester United spent the summer chasing a transfer for Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong, but the prospects of the Old Trafford club forcing a January deal through appear to be growing more distant after comments made by Camp Nou boss Xavi.

Barca persistently rebuffed offers for De Jong, who is valued at €58 million by FootballTransfers, in the summer, despite incessant interest from new Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag, who had worked with the player at Ajax.

This came at a time when Barcelona were closely watching their finances. Not only were they interested in potentially raising funds to sign Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva, a player who ultimately proved too expensive for them, but they were also concerned about their salary limit, with De Jong commanding a wage not in line with their new policy.

REVEALED: The price Man Utd would pay for De Jong in January

Xavi, meanwhile, was toying with playing the Netherlands international as a centre-back, strengthening rumours that the 25-year-old could move on.

Xavi hails De Jong

If Barcelona’s financial problems have not gone – and indeed they may have become more complicated because of their likely Champions League exit – Xavi appears to have canned the idea of De Jong playing in his back four following a fine display in Thursday’s 3-0 win over Villarreal in La Liga.

“He convinces me to be in the middle of the midfield for this team, he was very good and I'm so happy for him,” the coach said after a game in which a couple of first-half goals from Robert Lewandowski had allowed them to cruise to a win that keeps them in touch with league leaders Real Madrid.

MORE: Man Utd consider releasing Ronaldo in January

De Jong impressed against Villarreal, completing 75 of his 79 attempted passes and finding his mark with 96% of passes in the opposition half. On top of this, he won all 11 of his duels, completed five tackles and won possession nine times in what was a complete display.

Barcelona and Xavi, it seems, are just seeing in De Jong what Man Utd have known was there for months.