Frenkie de Jong 'not interested in Manchester United move'

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong reportedly has no intention of leaving the club for Manchester United in the current transfer window.

The 25-year-old is believed to be Erik ten Hag's number one midfield target after the pair's success at Ajax, but the Red Devils are still struggling to come to a full agreement with Barcelona.

Reports emerged earlier this month of the two clubs reaching a "broad agreement", believed to be in the region of £56m, but a move is now shrouded in uncertainty.

Man United are allegedly concerned about the prospect of a deal collapsing, and Barca president Joan Laporta has recently affirmed that the club have no plans to sell De Jong.

"Frenkie is not for sale. He is a Barcelona player. We don't want to transfer him," Laporta told the press at the unveiling of new signing Franck Kessie.

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"There are clubs that want him, not just United. We have no intention of selling him, he wants to stay. Frenkie is considered as one of the best midfielders in the world by all the experts. We are happy to have him.

"I'm going to do everything I can in my power so that Frenkie stays here, but there's also a salary issue and that would have to be adjusted."

Now, Sport claims that De Jong has multiple reasons why he does not want to leave Barcelona for Man United, as the Netherlands international and his wife are settled in the city.

The report adds that De Jong also has reservations over leaving a Champions League club for a side competing in the Europa League, and he feels that the 20-time English champions are a 'jinxed' team.

The former Ajax man also supposedly feels disrespected by the talks between the two clubs occurring behind his back, and he recently affirmed that Barcelona were his "dream club".

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De Jong's compatriot and former Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has also claimed that the midfielder has informed him of his desire to remain at Camp Nou, where he is under contract until 2026.

"I know the situation of Frenkie and he said it himself the other day, he wants to stay. It was his intention to stay at Barcelona and nothing else. That is the only thing I know," Koeman told reporters at the Koeman Cup golf tournament.

De Jong remained an integral part of Xavi's Barcelona XI last season despite the emergence of Gavi and Pedri and ended the 2021-22 campaign with four goals and five assists from 46 outings in all competitions.

The 25-year-old has now amassed a total of 13 goals and 17 assists in 140 games for the Blaugrana but has only won one Copa del Rey since making the £77m move from Ajax three years ago.

Man United have already lost Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata from their midfield this summer, with the former now confirmed to be returning to Juventus.