Barcelona president gives Manchester United hope over Frenkie de Jong transfer
Barcelona president gives Manchester United hope over sealing Frenkie de Jong transfer before the summer window closes.
Even as Laporta claims he wants De Jong to stay at Barcelona, he acknowledges that Manchester United may yet be able to get the Dutch international this summer.
De Jong is United’s main target according to Erik ten Hag, and the team and Barca have agreed to a deal worth €85 million (£71.7 million).
De Jong, though, prefers to stay at Camp Nou and is not enthusiastic about the idea of joining United mainly because of their lack of Champions League play.
Another issue is that Barca still owes the 25-year-old over €17 million (£14 million) in earnings because he consented to defer some of his pay in order to improve the club’s financial predicament.
And Barcelona president Joan Laporta has now refused to rule out the prospect of Manchester United signing Frenkie de Jong this summer.
While speaking to told CBS Sports, Laporta said; ‘In football, you never know.
‘I can’t say categorically. It all depends on the different parties.
‘But in principle, I can say there is a strong possibility he stays, and I can say as president I will do my best for him to stay at Barcelona.’
When asked what will happen if De Jong does not accept a pay cut, Laporta said: ‘Then he will continue. Has a contract. We will respect that decision.
‘For us, he’s a Barcelona player. We count on him.
‘The first thing to say is we want Frenkie to stay at Barcelona. We love the player and him as a human being.
‘I want him to stay at Barcelona. He’s a high-quality player and a good guy. I also know that he wants to stay.
‘All we are doing with Frenkie is the same as the rest of the squad. The signings coming in have adjusted their salary to the new structure.
‘But Frenkie has a contract and we respect that. We can’t force him to take a pay cut. It’s his decision.’
Asked if he has offered De Jong to Chelsea during his dinner with the club’s new co-owner Todd Boehly, Laporta replied: ‘No, no, no.
‘We had a very nice dinner in Barcelona and we talked in general about football.
‘He is a very successful businessman. He is involved in sports with the Lakers and Dodgers and now with Chelsea. He looks like a man who knows what he wants to do and it was a very nice dinner.’
Also read,
Manchester United Identify Frenkie de Jong main alternative
Manchester United responds to claims they’re forcing de Jong transfer
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