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Frenkie de Jong turned down a move to Manchester United after a conversation with Marc-Andre ter Stegen in Barcelona.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen has disclosed how he tried his best to keep Frenkie de Jong at Barcelona amid interest from Manchester United.
Despite consistently stating his desire to remain at Barcelona, De Jong was strongly connected with a move to Manchester United during the summer transfer window. At the time, according to Ter Stegen, he spoke with De Jong and tried his best to make sure the Dutchman stayed at Camp Nou.
“He brings a lot, I have a super high opinion of him but I also expect a lot from him because he has so much talent. He sees and feels football in a different way and this is why he is someone that Gavi and Pedri, for example, can look up to,” he told The Times.
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“I was hoping he would stay because this is the type of player I want to have in my team. I want to make very clear, when I talked to him I tried to [make him stay]. One day I will just put him in something here [he pretends to tie a rope around a chair leg] to keep him here always. I hope he will be here for a long time.”
Barcelona may need to sell off some important assets in the summer if their pay cost is to be reduced by €200 million. De Jong has stated that he wants to play for Barcelona for the next ten years, but he is still adamant about staying with the team.
This season in 21 La Liga games for Barcelona, Ter Stegen has kept 16 clean sheets and allowed only seven goals.
As Xavi’s team welcomes the Red Devils to Camp Nou on Thursday for the first leg of their Europa League elimination playoff matchup, De Jong and Barcelona will next face the battle against Manchester United.