Barcelona send HUGE transfer message to De Jong amid Man Utd clamour

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 15 May 2023 10:25 BST
• 3 min read

Barcelona’s players have made their feelings on Frenkie de Jong clear ahead of the summer transfer window, in which the Netherlands star is bound to be the source of speculation once again.

In 2022, De Jong was persistently pursued by Manchester United, with rumours that Erik ten Hag’s side could make a return for the 26-year-old continuing to bubble away.

And there is some substance to the suggestion that De Jong could be on his way from Camp Nou given the club’s difficult financial circumstances.

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Barcelona have been told to make cuts or raise €200 million before the end of June to allow them to sign players, with Lionel Messi the main target. Of course, this will not be a cheap operation and significant finances are required.

But it’s clear what Barca’s players think of De Jong.

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In an interview with BarcaTV following the 4-2 win over Espanyol that clinched the LaLiga title for the Catalan side, De Jong was interviewed by a jubilant Ronald Araujo, who made clear where he thinks the player’s future should lie.

“Here is the best midfielder in the world, Frenkie de Jong! A crack, a crack!” the centre-back declared.

Will De Jong leave Barcelona?

Despite Barcelona’s difficult position, it appears unlikely that De Jong will depart the club in the summer.

He is considered indispensable by Xavi, and in the prime years of his career is unlikely a player who will be willingly sacrificed.

Similarly, De Jong, who has a deal that runs until 2026, has no intention of leaving Barcelona by all accounts.

Manchester United, though, have been given enough hope to remain interested. The Netherlands star has had a difficult relationship with the board of the club due to his refusal to sign a new contract on Barca’s new, reduced wage structure.

It means he is Barca's top earner, and boasts an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €45.5 million, as well as interest from leading Premier League clubs like Man Utd and Chelsea, if the worst comes to the worst, he is a player who could leave. Barcelona, though, clearly want to avoid that eventuality.