Revealed: Why Barcelona snubbed €100m bid for Man Utd transfer target Frenkie de Jong

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has explained why the club snubbed a €100 million (£87m/$106m) bid for Manchester United-linked Frenkie de Jong.

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• Dutch midfielder linked with 2022 move
• Red Devils prepared to pay big money
• No deal done for key man at Camp Nou

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Netherlands international midfielder was heavily linked with a move to England during the summer of 2022. Former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag had taken the reins at Old Trafford and was eager to be reunited with a player that he had previously worked with in Amsterdam.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  United made several approaches for De Jong, but they were all resisted by the classy Dutch playmaker. Barca were also reluctant sellers, with much-publicised financial issues at Camp Nou the only reason that they were prepared to listen to offers at all.

• WHAT THEY SAID

  De Jong ended up staying put and has become a key cog in Barcelona’s midfield machine, with Laporta saying of why the club are delighted to have fended off big-money bids: “We cannot improve sportingly if we do not do our homework economically. We have had the opportunity to sell Frenkie de Jong for €100m, and we did not want to do it so as not to lose our ability to be competitive.”

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  De Jong has seen a new contract at Barca speculated on, as his value to the cause is recognised, and United have since moved in a different direction by adding the likes of Casemiro, Mason Mount and Sofyan Amrabat to their options in the middle of the park.