Frenkie de Jong comments on transfer links as Manchester United handed another ‘public’ transfer blow

Frenkie de Jong has laid out his intentions to stay at Barcelona “for a long time” despite sustained interest from Manchester United.

Speaking in a new Amazon Prime docu-series entitled ' FC Barcelona: A New Era' - to be released on December 28 - the Netherlands international went as far as saying he’d be “disappointed” if he had to leave for another club.

The Manchester Evening News revealed on Saturday that United are still interested in the midfielder, who has consistently repeated his desire to stay at the Nou Camp, publicly. However, it is understood that his private stance is different, and has told former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag that he would be happy to join the Reds.

Long negotiations with cash-troubled Barcelona over the summer involved a £74m (€85m) agreement in principle being struck before wage deferral issues proved to be the telling stumbling block.

Despite Barcelona’s reluctance to cough up De Jong’s owed wages from a Covid-19 pandemic agreement, the player told documentary makers this year that he wishes to stay in Spain. In a pre-release preview of the docu-series, the linchpin said: “I see myself playing here for a long time.

“I don’t care for rumours about whether I’m going to another club or staying here. We haven’t spoken about it and no one from the club has told me anything. I don't think it will happen, honestly, but if it does I would be disappointed."

Boss Xavi is evidently keen to keep De Jong, describing him as “a differential player” who “has much better conditions than I had as a footballer”. Barcelona face another summer of financial struggle amid their huge debts.

They still managed to welcome in the likes of Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski over the summer by selling off assets, including the Nou Camp’s naming rights and shirt sponsors to Spotify.

However, the club may be forced to sell off first-team stars in order to comply and operate within La Liga’s finance rules, meaning an exit for De Jong is not out of the question.