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– Frenkie de Jong “wants to stay” at Barcelona despite interest from Manchester United, says the club’s president Joan Laporta.
– The Premier League side agreed a £63.5m deal for the Netherlands midfielder, 25, last month, but the move is yet to be finalised.
– De Jong came on at half-time and scored in Barcelona’s 6-0 friendly win over Pumas UNAM on Sunday.
Also Read: Barcelona win 2022 Joan Gamper Trophy in style
– “He is a Barca player of great quality and we want him to stay,” said Laporta.
– “He has offers but we want him to stay and he wants to stay too.”
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
– De Jong has been linked with a move to Chelsea, but is also a key target for new Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, whose side lost 2-1 at home to Brighton on Sunday in his first game in charge.
– Reports have suggested Barcelona want De Jong to take a wage cut should he remain at the Nou Camp, amid the club’s financial troubles.
– The club are currently involved in a disagreement with De Jong over wages deferred by the Dutchman in the last couple of years which are now due to be paid.
– Barcelona have so far spent over £120m this summer on new signings Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde, with Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie arriving on free transfers.
– Meanwhile, Chelsea’s Spain left-back Marcos Alonso is also close to joining the club.
– Barcelona raised money for transfers this summer by selling shares of their domestic television rights and in-house production company, Barca Studios.
– However, the club has failed to register the players with La Liga requesting that more money be raised.
– Should Barcelona not register their new signings in time, they will not be available for their season opener against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.
