Barcelona open to negotiate with Manchester City for star midfielder
Barcelona are now ready to consider the prospect of selling midfielder Frenkie de Jong, with Manchester City keen on the player, reports El Nacional.
Frenkie de Jong, 24, joined Barcelona from Ajax in the summer of 2019, but after three seasons at Camp Nou, he is yet to become a consistent performer. The Netherlands international has blown hot and cold this season, as Barcelona continue to struggle in La Liga, even after the arrival of new head coach Xavi Hernandez.
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The 24-year-old midfielder endured another poor outing in Barcelona colours—this time in the recent Spanish Supercup semi-final defeat to Real Madrid. He was hooked off at half-time by Xavi after the central midfielder failed to make any sort of impact, as Real’s midfield trio of Luka Modric, Casemiro and Toni Kroos dominated the ball.
It had been previously understood that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola wanted De Jong, but Barcelona president Joan Laporta refused to sell him. However, Barca’s recent El Clasico defeat to Real Madrid appears to have changed Laporta’s mind over the Dutch midfielder.
El Nacional claims that Laporta is open to selling Frenkie de Jong in the summer to raise some cash to ease the club’s financial problems. The emergence of young midfield talents such as Pedri, Gavi and Nico Gonzalez means the 24-year-old’s departure will no longer make much damage to the Spanish heavyweights.
Manchester City would be interested in signing De Jong, with Pep Guardiola a big admirer of the Dutch talent. De Jong, for his part, would also be open to a change in scenery if he is offered a better sporting project by the Sky Blues.
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However, Guardiola’s Man City will have to stave off competition from Bayern Munich for the ex-Ajax star’s signature in the summer, the report adds.
De Jong has shown glimpses of his potential to become one of the best midfielders in Europe and is certain to have a bright future ahead. Despite knowing of Man City’s interest, the Netherlands international will not take a decision in haste and only decide his future at the end of the season, the report concludes.