Barcelona president Joan Laporta has, on Sunday, provided a fresh insight into the club’s stance on the potential sale of in-demand midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
The name of Dutch international De Jong, of course, has taken its place centre stage in the media headlines throughout the summer to date.
This comes with the 25-year-old having been identified as a prime target on the part of Premier League giants Manchester United.
With Barcelona in need of fresh funds amid something of a financial crisis at the Camp Nou, the widespread assumption was therefore that an agreement between the two clubs would quickly be found.
Lisbon, Lissabon, Portugal, 14th August 2020. Robert LEWANDOWSKI, FCB 9 against Clement LENGLET, Barca 15 Frenkie DE JONG, Barca 21 Jordi ALBA, Barca 18 action, area scene, scene in front of goal, Goal space scene, in the quarterfinal UEFA Champions Lea Lisbon Portugal, 14th August 2020. Robert LEWANDOWSKI, FCB 9 against Clement LENGLET, Barca 15 Frenkie DE JONG, Barca 21 Jordi ALBA, Barca 18 in the quarterfinal UEFA Champions League match
And yet, to this point, no such deal has been struck.
This comes with the powers that be at Old Trafford having failed to meet the considerable demands of their counterparts in Catalunya.
Speaking to the media on Sunday, Barca’s president, inevitably, was asked for an update on De Jong’s future.
And Laporta was not at all shy in confirming that the Blaugrana, despite ‘offers’ from across Europe, ‘want him to stay’ through the 2022/23 campaign.
Barça president Laporta on Frenkie de Jong: “Frenkie’s our player and we want him to stay at Barcelona, he wants to stay too”. 🚨🇳🇱 #FCB
“With him and his teammates, we have a very powerful midfield. He has offers, but we want him to stay”. @ReshadRahman_ pic.twitter.com/TZqllbKZFd
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 7, 2022
Read more:
Assessing Erik ten Hag’s first game as Manchester United manager
Manchester United vs Brighton: Match report, player ratings, fan reaction & more