Xavi wants to keep Frenkie de Jong at Barcelona
FT Desk
- 14 Aug 2022 11:34 BST
- 3 min read
Frenkie de Jong failed to start Barcelona's season-opening goalless draw with Rayo Vallecano, but Manchester United fans shouldn't be getting too excited.
De Jong is the player Barcelona have been keenest to get off their books amid their recent financial troubles. The highest-paid player at the club, he is also their most saleable asset as a 25-year-old rated at €61 million by Football Transfers.
The Netherlands international has held firm all summer though, previously describing Barca as his "dream club" who now also happen to owe him €20m in deferred wages.
De Jong was used at centre-back in pre-season and didn't even get onto the field until an hour was gone at Camp Nou on Saturday - albeit as a midfielder then, replacing youngster Gavi.
"De Jong is not desperate for a re-union with Ten Hag" 🤷♂️@jacobsben of @cbssportsgolazo with the inside story 👀 pic.twitter.com/uBH1QrTUOG
— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) August 11, 2022
And the suspicion remains that Barca are trying to coax De Jong out of the club, but coach Xavi Hernandez is having none of it.
"Frenkie de Jong is NOT a substitute [in general]," he told the press after 0-0 draw. "He's very important and I've already said many times that he's very important for us.
"I don't know what will happen with the market, but if he stays, he'll be important for us."
Garcia gushing
Former Barcelona and Liverpool winger Luis Garcia said that De Jong was the best player on the pitch when on TV punditry duty with ESPN.
"He was the best one," he said. "I think he showed today, he wanted to show, 'listen, I'm here, I wanted to do something, look what I can bring the table.'
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"He definitely was one of the best players in the second half."
Heckled by a pocket of fans on the way to training last week, De Jong might have been pleasantly surprised at the warm reception he received at the 99,354-capacity Camp Nou on Saturday.
If Xavi's good to his word, the Dutchman might have the same experience for a long time yet.
