MX23RW : Thursday, January 30 21:18:44| >> :60:469:469:

Frenkie de Jong: 'Joan Laporta pressured me to leave Barcelona'

Frenkie de Jong: 'Joan Laporta pressured me to leave Barcelona'
© Reuters
Frenkie de Jong claims that Barcelona president Joan Laporta put pressure on him to leave Camp Nou over the summer amid interest from Manchester United.

Frenkie de Jong has said that Barcelona president Joan Laporta put pressure on him to leave Camp Nou during the summer transfer window.

The Catalan giants are believed to have been keen to move the Netherlands international on during the summer to ease their financial issues.

De Jong is capable of raising a high transfer fee, with Manchester United believed to have been prepared to pay in excess of £70m, while the midfielder also collects a substantial pay packet at Camp Nou.

The Dutchman insisted on a number of occasions over the summer that he was not prepared to leave, though, and Man United were ultimately forced to admit defeat in their pursuit.

Chelsea and Bayern Munich were also credited with an interest late in the window, but De Jong remained with his La Liga club past the deadline.

Frenkie de Jong in action for Barcelona on August 13, 2022© Reuters

The midfielder has said that pressure to leave Barcelona during the recent market came from a number of areas, including the club's president Laporta.

"I was calm. I decided in May that I wanted to stay. My opinion has never changed during this entire period," De Jong told Ziggo Sport.

"I stayed calm. But then you know the pressure would start to come. Yes, from the newspapers, from the president, exactly. From everywhere actually. But I wanted to stay at Barca so it never baffled me."

A recent report claimed that Man United remain in contact with Barcelona, with the Red Devils still interested in bringing De Jong to Old Trafford in the future.

Meanwhile, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is also said to be keen on De Jong, who still has another four years left to run on his current deal with Xavi's side.

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong in action in July 2022© Reuters

De Jong has made 10 appearances for Barcelona this season, scoring once, but he has found it difficult to break into the starting side in 2022-23.

The midfielder has only started three La Liga matches this term, while he has been named in the first XI on just one occasion in the Champions League.

De Jong is desperate to be given the chance to play from the start against Real Madrid on Sunday afternoon, with Barcelona making the trip to Bernabeu for the latest instalment of El Clasico.

"I want to be a starter again. Against Bayern, I was not a starter and I hope to be against Real Madrid. Maybe he (Xavi) has already decided, but normally we don't know until the day of the game," he added.

Jules Kounde will be back for Barcelona on Sunday after recovering from a hamstring injury, but Andreas Christensen, Memphis Depay, Ronald Araujo and Hector Bellerin remain on the sidelines.

ID:497062:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect5360:
Written by
Matt Law

Frenkie de Jong future - Click here for more stories

Click here for more stories about Andreas Christensen

Click here for more stories about Manchester United

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Frenkie de Jong in action for Barcelona on August 13, 2022
Read Next:
Liverpool 'keen to bring Frenkie de Jong to Anfield'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool22165154213353
2Arsenal23138244212347
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2313553327644
4Manchester CityMan City23125647301741
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle23125641271441
6Chelsea23117545301540
7Bournemouth23117541261540
8Aston Villa2310763435-137
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2381053531434
10Fulham238963431333
11Brentford2394104240231
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd2385102832-429
13Crystal Palace236982630-427
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham2376102844-1627
15Tottenham HotspurSpurs2373134637924
16Everton225891928-923
17Leicester CityLeicester2345142549-2417
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2344153252-2016
19Ipswich TownIpswich2337132147-2616
20Southampton2313191653-376


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!