De Jong’s Barca decision vindicated ahead of United clash
DOT Desk: Frenkie de Jong was heavily linked with a move to Manchester United last summer but the Barcelona midfielder resisted, despite pressure on him from all angles to make the switch, reports Dhaka Trubine.
On Thursday he will lead Barca’s midfield against the Red Devils and his former Ajax coach Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford, where he might have played this season — safe in the knowledge his decision has been vindicated.
Ten Hag was keen on reuniting with the 25-year-old, while Barcelona’s financial situation meant they would have been happy to get De Jong’s wages off the books and bank a significant transfer fee.
However De Jong was at home in the Catalan capital, even though his compatriot Ronald Koeman had been replaced in Barcelona’s dugout by Xavi Hernandez, less convinced by the midfielder, signed in 2019 from Ajax for 75 million euros ($80 million).
De Jong arrived at his dream club, as revealed by his partner Mikky Kiemeney on social media, where she posted a picture of the player back in 2015 at Camp Nou, visiting as a fan. However the move turned into a nightmare as Barcelona suffered sporting, financial and institutional crises, with coaches Ernesto Valverde, Quique Setien and Koeman all sacked.
Xavi arrived and many hoped that one of the all-time greatest midfielders would be able to help De Jong improve.
However, frequently hauling him off early, Xavi seemed frustrated the midfielder could not slot into his ‘positional play’ gameplan.
De Jong wanted to operate as the deepest midfielder, a role which Xavi reserved for veteran Sergio Busquets, leaving the Dutchman no choice but to play higher up.
Yet despite the “95 percent” completion of his switch to United, per one Spanish report in the summer, he dug his heels in, determined to convince the Barcelona coach and establish himself where he always hoped to reach.