It remains to be seen if Manchester United have any interest in revisiting their pursuit of Frenkie de Jong, which lasted over 100 days in the summer before Erik ten Hag decided to sign Casemiro from Real Madrid instead, but it looks like it would take another mighty task to get the Dutch midfielder away from Camp Nou.
Manchester United fans won’t complain about how things mapped out for Ten Hag because Casemiro has been the midfielder we’ve needed for years. Someone that can protect the back four to allow our attacking players in midfield get further forward.
Gone are the days of Fred and Scott McTominay acted as a double pivot.
However, Frenkie de Jong has continued to rule out a potential move to Manchester United because – like he said in the summer – he wants to stay at Barcelona where he has re-established himself in Xavi’s side after doubts over his future in the summer.
In a new interview, carried out by De Telegraaf, De Jong claims he could stay in Spain for the next decade.
“I am very happy in Barcelona. When I play it’s great and in terms of living here life is perfect. I see myself at Barcelona for as long as possible. I personally hope for another eight or 10 years.”
There was a dispute over the summer regarding De Jong’s contract at Barcelona, with suggestions that he was owed money following a deferred payment, but the midfielder spoke about that in his pre-World Cup interview.
“One day a paper published details from my contract. I didn’t leak it and only one other party knew about this, so it had to be the club who did this. Suddenly there was a letter in which the question was asked whether my contract was still valid, because the previous president made the contract. I found it very annoying that the club did this, but I had no further influence on things.
“I blame these people [those at Barça who wanted him out], but I have nothing to do with them. Yes, they are Barça for me because they lead the club. But I don’t see them when I’m at the club. I have nothing to do with them in my daily life.”
