The Curious Case of Frenkie de Jong.

Charu Chandan Blood Drip (2).png
Source

It's been a couple of months now since Manchester United declared their interest in Frenkie de Jong. Barcelona have agreed a transfer fee for the player believed to be in the region of £75 million. But the deal still isn't done. The player is digging his heels in as he wants to stay at Barcelona but Barcelona are squeezing him out. They have replacements at the club already, Gavi and Pedri so De Jong is seen as their most saleable asset this summer. For a club that is fairly active in the transfer market and giving nice lucrative contracts to the likes of Raphina and Lewandowski they need to sell players to cover the cost of these. Barca are still heavily in debt after years of mismanagement which is all covered in sportsbook of the year "Barca" by Simon Kuper. They have been playing the poor mouth for the last few years and it is rumoured that other clubs have now grown sick of their antics. Signing players like Raphina for mad money and then turning arounds to the likes of Manchester United demanding massive fees for their players. This is one reason why this transfer is taking so long.
The player himself likes being at Barcelona. It is widely considered one of the nicest locations to live as a footballer and a transfer to rainy Manchester might not be his idea of heaven. It's a funny one really bidding for a player who does not want to go to your club. Frenkie is dragging his heals. He is still under contract and he is happy at Barcelona. Why should he leave?
There is also a matter of €17 million in deferred wages owing to him which is a major barrier to him leaving Barcelona. Barcelona players agreed the wage cut during the Covid-19 lockdown. If he leaves then bye bye €17 million. Would you leave if you were owed this much? There has been talks that €17 will be included in the fee to sign the player and with some cross of a pen and dot of an i, it will end up in De Jongs bank account. Now if you were a United supporter would you like to be paying a players deferred wages at another club. I think not.
United are one of the only clubs actually interested in the Barcelona player much to the ire of Barcelona. They thought they would have a bidding war on their hands but if this transfer saga goes on any longer then United will pull the plug. But why do United want the player so badly??
It is because the new manager wants him. He had played with his Ajax team when they reached the champions League semi final in 2019 (Dumped out by a Moura masterclass I might add.)
Ten Haag has been raiding Ajax for his former players and even other clubs for his former Ajax players. So United are really backing their new manager. REALLY backing him.
And there I was thinking that United have changed and are only looking to fill positions rather than go after who their manager wants. Hmmmmmmmm.
What if Ten Hag does not work out. Then they will be back to square 1 with players that suit different managers. We still have players from Van Gaal, Mourinhos, Ole's era. Whereas the likes of Liverpool and City are buying to suit positions no matter who the manager is. This is what United should be doing and said they were going to be doing but here we are again with the signing of Christian Eriksen and maybe De Jong. De Jong is needed but is Eriksen. Can him and Bruno play together? Strange one that. United need a Declan Rice. They are spending so much time on De Jong , I am wondering if they paid a few million extra for the West Ham midfielder would they be a better outfit. It's not like De Jong has been pulling up trees for Barcelona the last 3 years but the boss man wants him.
With Barcelona cash strapped and United with money to burn it seems funny that Barca are the ones that are signing the players due to their global reputation and United's ailing one. If this was 10 years ago it would have never been a problem but nobody wants to be playing in the Europa League anymore if they can play in the Champions League and aim for a title. Spanish football has got weaker in recent years with Barcelona's decline but one can argue that the Champions League winners are Spanish and I am talking through my arse.
United have started well with a 4 - 0 thrashing of a quasi Liverpool team and a 4-1 beating of Melbourne. Martial and Sanchez look like different players so is the revival happening at United? All that needs to happen now is for Ronaldo to waltz back into the dressing room and ruin the pressing game that Ten Hag has been operating. There are no teams in Europe wanting Ronaldo at this stage as he is a one man show but the team gets worse. You can see that with United and Juventus and some Madridistas reckon there as well. Next season will be riveting and it's not long before it starts.



0
0
0.000
26 comments
avatar

Exactly, man, that's the great thing! That it is not long before it starts.

Buying players to suit positions is definitely the best. Ten Hag is a great manager but chances are he can fail in the premier league with monsters like Man City and Liverpool to compete with, so if they're buying players just because he wants them they might end up with guys who have overstayed their usefulness.

Then, De Jong, what a dilemma to be in!😅

0
0
0.000
avatar

Well they will just end up paying him mad money to go there. He will be wiping his tears with 100 euro notes

0
0
0.000
avatar

Hehehe. United not being able to qualify for champions league was such a bitch. You've seen how Ronaldo is trying to get out like he fell in a hole or some 😅

0
0
0.000
avatar

25% pay cut. That's why. But noone will have him so he will return

0
0
0.000
avatar

He's losing 25% of his pay?

0
0
0.000
avatar

Funny how players don't want to go to United as it could be a dead end career move. Still they will struggle achieving top 6 and always fun to watch the fans bitching when results don't go their way.

0
0
0.000
avatar

I think De Jong would be the signing that makes the most sense for Ten Haag. It is very simialr to Thiago when he transfered from Barca to Bayern because guardiola wanted him so badly. If a player performed well udner a coach and this coach does not change his idea of football, I think it is always good to renew this relationsship at another club.

0
0
0.000
avatar

True although he is relying on players from an inferior league to really hit the ground running. Talking more about the Dutch league than the Spanish of course. De Jong would be a good signing.

0
0
0.000
avatar

There has been talks that €17 will be included in the fee to sign the player and with some cross of a pen and dot of an i,

Wow that's crazy. Really seems like a Dutch revolution at United is beginning. Bring back Total Football!

0
0
0.000
avatar

Yeah well if you look at the likes of Van der Saar , Van Nisteroy , Van Persie . They all succeeded there. I reckon Ten Haag may finally be the manager United have been longing for. He's a disciplinarian and a good coach.

0
0
0.000
avatar

I think De Jong simply loves Barcelona too much as he could still get his late payments if he moves. With Bruno as CAM, he needs De Jong. That Eriksen signing is weird as hell though because let's say he'll only serve as a sub for Bruno, where does that leave Van De Beek?

I was planning to write about Manchester United but found myself having more and more things to say that it became not worth the headache. But, I could definitely say that Ten Haag knows and has more control than many might think.

0
0
0.000
avatar

Yeah but weren't united saying they wouldn't do that. I know they have to to succeed but they are really throwing all their eggs in one basket here I think.

0
0
0.000
avatar

I still don't understand why Barcelona wants him to leave the club, the Dutchman has made his intention known that he sees himself as a Barca player and when the time comes for him to renew his contract he will gladly sign the papers. And I feel Frankie does not want to go to United because they can't offer him UCL football this coming season, this is one roller coaster we just have to watch and see how it plays out.

0
0
0.000
avatar

It's all about the money. He is Barcelonas largest saleable asset and they have to sell to bring in players. They also have a couple of up and coming stars that will easily fill his boots.

0
0
0.000
avatar

This is so detailed and I enjoyed this. I didn't even know he was owed that much and being included in the fee which goes directly to him is crazy. Yes, De Jong doesn't want to leave and I think United should pull the plug. The money is good for Barcelona but it doesn't look good for United one bit.

0
0
0.000
avatar

With Lewandowski coming they have to sell.

0
0
0.000
avatar

Yes they have to but De Jong doesn't want to leave and it's killing them to see that the bidding war they wanted for De Jong isn't happening. Except United still stays in the hunt but trust me, I don't think I want De Jong again right now due to his lack of desire to come in the first place but still, I wouldn't blame him. He wants an opportunity to still win trophies.

0
0
0.000
avatar

Frenkie de Jong, Shrenkie de shong!! So long as those United feckers stay out of the top 4! Arsenal have Moses and Jesus now, so it should be an Champions League Qualification this year! 👀👀

0
0
0.000
avatar

Here the process will fail by November and Vieira will be in by xmas.

0
0
0.000
avatar

Now I understand what have been causing delay in this transfer, 17 million is not a small money and Manchester United won’t be willing to pay this. I hope Barcelona pay him his money and he leaves the club since they have a lot to pay for Raphinha.

0
0
0.000