Man Utd target Frenkie de Jong speaks out on Barcelona future
Frenkie de Jong has cast doubt over a potential transfer to Manchester United by reaffirming his commitment to Barcelona.
The 25-year-old was linked with a move to Old Trafford throughout the summer amid a dispute over unpaid wages at Barca, but ended up staying in Spain despite United's best efforts to negotiate a deal.
De Jong previously worked under current United manager Erik ten Hag at Ajax and is known to still be in contact with his former manager.
90min understands that United remain interested in luring De Jong to Manchester, as they look to re-establish themselves as a significant force in European football, but there's been no inclination that the Dutch midfielder will look to force a move away from Catalonia.
Indeed, De Jong's latest comments to RAC1 indicate that he wants to remain at Barcelona for the time being and continue living out his childhood dream.
"I was calm, because I knew I wanted to continue at Barca and I haven't changed my opinion," De Jong said.
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"I had always dreamed of playing for Barca and I want to succeed as a Barca player. And now I'm calm and I want to continue at Barca."
Further explaining his motives for wanting to stay, he added: “I have never won the league. This is my fourth year here and it's the closest I've ever been, but there's still a long way to go. I want to win this league, it is the main goal we have and we will give everything to achieve it.”
Barring a dramatic slip-up from Barcelona, De Jong looks to be in pole position to win that elusive La Liga title he craves. Real Madrid are currently nine points behind their bitter rivals in the table, with Xavi's side pulling clear after scooping 20 wins from 24 games.
That success hasn't been replicated in Europe, though, with Barcelona and De Jong crashing out to United in the Europa League knockout play-off round after being eliminated from the Champions League at the group stage.
On Barcelona's demise in continental competition, De Jong admitted that he "expected to go much further in the Champions League", adding "...we have to do much better and this year we had a squad to do it, so we assume that it was our fault, we hope that next year we will do much better.”
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