Bullet dodged by Man Utd? Dutch legend BLASTS Frenkie de Jong

Tom Weber

Updated: 4 Jun 2024 16:10 BST
3 min read

Frenkie de Jong, Erik ten Hag, Man Utd — © IMAGO

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit did not hold back when talking about Frenkie de Jong ahead of Euro 2024.

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The Barcelona star is seemingly always in the news. Usually, it is because of transfer speculation, with the Dutchman frequently linked with an exit due to the Catalans' financial problems.

While a summer exit appears unlikely this year, this wasn't the case in 2022 when Man Utd were close to signing the 27-year-old. Erik ten Hag even recently admitted that he had tried to bring his former Ajax protégé to Old Trafford.

No move ultimately materialised but the Red Devils continue to be linked with the midfielder. However, it seems as though Man Utd dodged a bullet by failing to sign him.

At least that's the impression one gets when listening to Netherlands and AC Milan legend Ruud Gullit talk about his compatriot.

Gullit blasts De Jong

Speaking on Ziggo Sport, the 61-year-old tore into the midfielder, insisting that he 'plays badly' and doesn't affect games as much as a player with his quality should.

"I'll say something to Frenkie de Jong. I started at Feyenoord as a right-winger. Then Johan Cruyff said to me: 'Ruud, you have to improve your teammates.' I never understood him. But you know why he told me that? Because when you improve your teammates, you always play well!"

"But Frenkie doesn't do that, he's playing badly. He doesn't live up to the level he has. If you look at Frenkie de Jong in the last World Cup, he was like a ghost! He has to take matters into his own hands."

De Jong is facing a race against time to be fit for Euro 2024 after missing Barcelona's end to the campaign. The Blaugrana star recently stated that he is willing to take certain risks to feature in Germany, but it will take a lot for him to impress Gullit.