Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez has issued a hands off warning to Manchester United on his midfield star Frenkie de Jong.
United are reportedly keen on the Dutchman ahead of their summer recruitment drive, which will be headed by new boss Erik ten Hag. The Red Devils confirmed the appointment of the Dutchman last week. De Jong worked with the current Ajax coach when he was coming through the ranks in Amsterdam and remains highly rated.
Central midfield is an area in which United need to bolster their options ahead of several key departures this term. De Jong has been identified as a candidate, according to reports in the Catalan press, who claim Ten Hag is hoping he can convince his former player to join him in the Premier League.
De Jong has been at the Camp Nou since moving in the summer of 2019 for €75m (£63m). The Catalans are struggling financially and there were suggestions that they might welcome a hefty bid for some of their players, but the Dutchman is among those they would be more inclined to keep. De Jong faces competition from the likes of Gavi and Pedri – teenage midfield stars at the Camp Nou.
The presence of that duo alongside the emergence of Nico Gonzalez and continued presence of Sergio Busquets and imminent arrival of Frank Kessie as a free agent from Milan does suggest that De Jong may fall into the rare bracket of player in the Blaugrana’s squad who would command a big market value but is also not entirely dispensable to their squad.
Yet Barca boss Xavi has heaped praise upon the former Ajax by insisting that he was the ‘future’ of the club and would be retained beyond this season even if there were other clubs interested in his signing.
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Xavi said in a press conference on Saturday: "He has to be a player that makes the difference and he does. There aren't many players with his quality in the world. He's the present and the future here. He is a very important player for me. He's capable, strong, he gets into the box... He has had some excellent games, but he has to be consistent."
Xavi’s predecessor Ronald Koeman said similar earlier this week, insisting that De Jong would be remaining at Barca beyond this campaign. Koeman – who has coached the midfielder at both club and international level – will once again manage De Jong when he replaces Louis van Gaal as Netherlands boss after this year’s World Cup.
Koeman explained this week : "Barça don't want to sell Frenkie. He's a great player, a great midfielder. He's gone through some games where he has not been at his level. I do not doubt him, for me he's a permanent fixture with the Netherlands. I hope he gets back to his level."
United are likely to undergo significant squad upheaval this summer with Ten Hag inheriting his former Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek, who may once again play alongside De Jong should their plans come off.
