Frenkie de Jong has been left 'disgusted' by Barcelona after boss Xavi Hernandez informed him of their decision to sell him to Manchester United over a phone call.
De Jong returned to training at the club's facilities on Monday before United transfer chiefs Richard Arnold and John Murtough jetted to the Catalan capital to conclude an agreement between the sides. They met with Barca president Joan Laporta alongside the club's transfer officials Mateu Alemany, Jordi Cruyff and Rafa Yuste.
United already had an initial transfer fee agreed with Barcelona for the value of £56.2million, with it now reported by Catalan TV station TV3 that a total package worth £72million has now been agreed. On Monday night, Xavi phoned the player to inform him of the situation.
The details are outlined by Mundo Deportivo, who claim that Monday was the second direct meeting between the clubs after a meeting at the Via Veneto restaurant last Thursday in Barcelona. On Monday, the representatives dined at the Triton restaurant, near Camp Nou.
De Jong is said to have been understanding of Barcelona's economic position and their need for a sale but he has been left deeply displeased about the manner in which they have approached the transfer and he is said to have been left isolated in the negotiation process.
The player is said to be grateful for the level of interest shown by United in his signature and particularly that of new boss Erik ten Hag. It had previously been reported that the player had already cleared out his locker at Barca with a move to Old Trafford appearing to be edging closer. Ten Hag coached De Jong at Ajax and held a phone call to convince the player that he should join his project at Old Trafford.
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De Jong, 25, was informed that he would be the 'conductor of the orchestra' and would be an undisputed starter under Ten Hag – a similar role to the one he enjoyed so much in Amsterdam. There is said to be a great deal of confidence among United officials that their patience in the negotiation process will ultimately pay off.
Even though the Blaugrana have been bullish in their public statements over the player, even insisting that he was not for sale, privately they have been open to his departure and United have been aware of this. They believed that Laporta’s insistence that De Jong would not be sold was a negotiating tactic.
This is a transfer saga that has dragged on over several months but it finally appears that United are edging closer to getting their man and the landmark signing of Ten Hag’s first transfer window at the club.
