Xavi Hernandez has explained Barcelona’s reasons for wanting to sell Frenkie de Jong in a direct conversation with the player, according to reports.
According to Mundo Deportivo journalist Fernando Polo, the Barcelona manager has told De Jong that he likes him as a player, but that it is economically necessary for the club to sell him this summer.
If this doesn’t mean Barcelona are pushing him out of the club against Xavi’s will, I really don’t know what to suggest as an alternative angle.
Barca need the money and United have made the Netherlands international their prime target ahead of Erik ten Hag’s first season at Old Trafford.
Speaking to Radioestadio Noche, Polo said: “Xavi has said that De Jong is worth it, that he is a player that he likes, but that it is economically necessary to sell him…”
He added: “If De Jong goes to United, it will be an unnatural transfer; it would be a favor for the player to do the team because the change is, in principle, bad for him.”
The last part isn’t very promising because we should only sign players who want to come to United. That said, this could be Barcelona up to their old tricks, leaking unnecessary information and sometimes lies.
SN’s verdict
With John Murtough and Richard Arnold getting busy in Barcelona during the week, I reckon we will soon to reach a conclusion on the De Jong transfer, and I’m still confident that he will become a United player this summer.
I’m not buying the Barcelona narrative that De Jong doesn’t want to come to United. Surely Ten Hag sussed out his feelings on a move to United because we made him our priority target for the transfer window?
Xavi already has a number of talented midfielders so they won’t feel too much of a pinch for selling De Jong, even if Ronald Koeman has warned the club against selling the deep-lying playmaker.
It’s a matter of time before we know what is really going on behind the scenes with this transfer.