Frenkie de Jong explained to Manchester United great Dwight Yorke that he did not join the Reds last summer because he wanted to see how Xavi's project at Barcelona would materialise.
United's interest in De Jong ran throughout summer 2022 and became one of the window's major sagas, with MEN Sport reporting last May that Erik ten Hag was interested in his compatriot. The two clubs had come to an agreement over a deal worth an initial €65million that June, but failed to agree personal terms with the player between then and the end of the window.
That was partly down to millions of euros De Jong was owed by Barcelona in deferred wages, and the 25-year-old said in September that he 'always wanted to stay at Barcelona'. Yorke claims to have spoken to the midfielder, who personally told him he wanted to test the waters under Xavi before making a decision.
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"I actually spoke to Frenkie de Jong when we played against him in the A-League All-Stars game in Australia," Yorke told Premier League Betting. "I have a little bit of insight, he wanted to see what Barcelona would become under the new guidance of Xavi and see how that panned out before he decided if he wanted to join Manchester United.
"But there is a Dutch connection with Erik ten Hag, De Jong would be a great pick because he's an excellent player. He would be the player that would fit into that midfield next to Casemiro and give us a bit more stability. Manchester United would have a very solid core to the team if he was to join."
With a central midfielder at the top of Ten Hag's shopping list last summer, United were forced to move on from De Jong with a late £60million move for Casemiro. The Brazilian has been a revelation at Old Trafford, but possesses a different profile to the Barcelona star.
Ten Hag is targeting two major signings this summer, one of which is in central midfield and United may yet revive their pursuit of De Jong.
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