Barcelona tell De Jong to leave as Man Utd ‘best move for his career’
Barcelona have told Frenkie de Jong to leave the club for Manchester United as it ‘would be the best move for his career’.
A report on Thursday confirmed United have reached a full agreement with Barcelona to sign the midfielder.
READ MORE: De Jong chase and Ten Hag autonomy exposes Manchester United’s transfer failures
The Red Devils have agreed to pay Barcelona a guaranteed fee of €75million (£63million) up front for de Jong with €10million (£8.5million) in potential add-ons.
And now, according to The Athletic, Barcelona have told De Jong they want him to leave the club, as they need to balance their wage bill, which is causing complications when it comes to registering incomings like Raphinha.
The report says he Catalans are now working to convince the 25-year-old that moving to Old Trafford ‘would be the best move for his career’, insisting his departure is due simply to their economic strife.
The situation is complicated by Barcelona owing De Jong a deferred salary payment of €17million, with a further report claiming the Dutchman ‘wants the issue completely clarified, and if it is not done so to his satisfaction, he is content to defy any attempt to sell him and stay.’
The Athletic claim it’s unclear whether De Jong will travel with the Barcelona squad on their pre-season tour in the US, adding that the La Liga giants are desperate to get the deal signed as they’re aware ‘they know it won’t be there forever’.
Former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor believes United should give De Jong an “ultimatum” to avoid further embarrassment as the transfer saga continues to drag.
“It’s going to come to the stage where Man United need to have some self-respect,” Agbonlahor said.
“A club of Man United’s stature, how have they fallen where De Jong has said ‘Let me keep you on hold and make my mind up in a couple of months’. That isn’t how Man United are used to being treated, usually it’s ‘I’ll sign for Man United, let’s get it done’.
“It’s a bit embarrassing for them the longer it goes on, to be honest. Maybe they’ve got to give him an ultimatum and say ‘There is this date. You either sign or we are moving on to other players’.”
