Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has admitted that he expected the Catalan giants to try and force him out of the club by frequently leaving him on the bench in recent months.
The Dutchman was heavily linked with a move to Manchester United in the summer transfer window, but a move failed to materialise - despite the two clubs reportedly agreeing a fee for the 25-year-old. De Jong was adamant that he did not want to leave the Camp Nou under any circumstances.
He has since admitted that he was under 'pressure' from newspapers and club president Joan Laporta, but claimed that it never 'baffled' him as he was certain that he would be remaining in Spain.
"I was calm. I decided in May that I wanted to stay. My opinion has never changed during this entire period," De Jong told Ziggo Sport.
"I stayed calm. But then you know the pressure would start to come... Yes, from the newspapers, from the president, exactly. From everywhere actually. But I wanted to stay at Barca so it never baffled me."
De Jong has made 10 appearances for Barcelona in all competitions this season, however, the majority of those have come from the substitutes' bench.
The former Ajax man, who played under United boss Erik ten Hag at the Eredivisie outfit, started on the bench in the Champions League matches against Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, as well as in LaLiga games against Sevilla, Rayo Vallecano and Celta Vigo.
The 25-year-old midfielder has only started three domestic matches for Xavi's side, and just once in Europe. Despite his lack of game time so far this term, De Jong suggested that he was not surprised by his lack of minutes - but admitted that he was hopeful of featuring in Sunday's El Clasico against bitter rivals Real Madrid.
"I want to be a starter again. Against Bayern, I was not a starter and I hope to be against Real Madrid," De Jong added. "Maybe he has already decided, but normally we don't know until the day of the game."
After failing to secure a move for De Jong in the transfer window, United moved late to sign defensive midfielder Casemiro from Real Madrid. The Brazilian has impressed since his summer switch and starred in the 2-1 victory over Everton last weekend.
Shauny300
0
Buh Gavi, Garcia, Alonso, Busquet, Pique, are playing to the level which they are being paid right?
Gavi & Garcia earning 5m a yr Busquet & Pique took pay cut from the ridiculous contract they got but Frenkie on the other hand haven't took one so shut up
Agala1800
0
The club was looking for an exit for de jong because they could get more money from him and he didn’t want to take a salary cut. Which I think you should considering that you say you love the club and see there struggling just like every other player. But at this moment I do see him starting more games but let’s see either way because if he doesn’t take a salary cut his out I’m sorry but the truth
Do you think he would stay if Barca paid him the wages they owe him?
Agala1800
0
stop using racism ffs the dude just not playing to the level he's being paid & he's not the first player it have happened to he needs to just go
Buh Gavi, Garcia, Alonso, Busquet, Pique, are playing to the level which they are being paid right?
Agala1800
0
this life no balance, when a player decide to leave a team, he is called all sorts of names but when a player decides to player for a team and the team is pushing him away although he is on a contract, nothing is said about it. my own Barcelona, xavi u are a racist and am disappointed in you as a coach and not as a player.
Buh Gavi, Garcia, Alonso, Busquet, Pique, are playing to the level which they are being paid right?
yascdikmy
1
you will be a starter in the Europa League 🤣
hadaclmsuz
0
I wonder why so many of u are just blaming this guy he's not the cause of Barcelona problem, xavi is Barcelona problem bc de jong is better than gavi nd busquet
cokabmnotu
0
vzuhs
SMHellas
0
It's like your missus trying to divorce you and you keep resisting even though you know the marriage is over
Energy23
1
u don't know anything yet. xavi will still use u as a GK one day after they said you should go they don't need u at their club no more u prove adamant because of ucl jus sounding like this is the last ucl u will play in your life God so good they don't you regard u anymore just continue dragging position with young boys gavi n pedri you do not even care about love united have for you because they said they will clear barca debt for you but still you want to prove too wise and it has bounce back on u now
Energy23
1
I doubt it if you will perform as expected self if you move to united because this hype is too much and England media knows how to target you if you not from England and they pay big money to bring you to the epl and u not performing we ll
Ameh23
0
Story for the gods
Ruunopuyz
1
Barcelona are nonsense
yutcklpstu
1
If you love barca, you would take a salary cut
Sidams
0
He will soon join us as .. matter of time ✌🏽
Shauny300
0
so if we sold dejong it will be busquets playing dm for the rest of the season 😭😭😭, xavi stubbornness will lead us to nowhere
you have a Madrid badge did u forget to change it lol
Shauny300
0
this life no balance, when a player decide to leave a team, he is called all sorts of names but when a player decides to player for a team and the team is pushing him away although he is on a contract, nothing is said about it. my own Barcelona, xavi u are a racist and am disappointed in you as a coach and not as a player.
stop using racism ffs the dude just not playing to the level he's being paid & he's not the first player it have happened to he needs to just go
This_user_has_money
0
Lol Ozil is AMF, Iniesta CMF. How about u compare the stats of how much dribble completed, ball recovery, successful tackle etc? Don analyze by goal and assist only, they're midfielder not a forward.
Wetin we wan use dribble do 😂😂😂 will dribble give you a win?
Bapemnorsz
0
Am still young, I don't have a wife, reasoning more than you doesn't make me as old as you, am just wiser than you🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.
mf I will f*** your whole family members. your whole family members combined have less than half of my d*** size you mf boy.
MDChrisUtd
0
I have already send videos to your wife now she wants my bang too you poor mf boy.
Am still young, I don't have a wife, reasoning more than you doesn't make me as old as you, am just wiser than you🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.
Vapdikrsz
2
Arteta, just go and get him this january
Bapemnorsz
0
Mf am more like them(Mom and Dad), I don't give a lot time for nonsense, so ur story is enough, I won't have time to watch, maybe send them to ur fellow Mf****g empty pumpkin muffs🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.
I have already send videos to your wife now she wants my bang too you poor mf boy.
MDChrisUtd
0
mf I have videos f****** your mo**** black p**** just send me your email address I will send you her nu*** pics and videos and our s** videos.
Mf am more like them(Mom and Dad), I don't give a lot time for nonsense, so ur story is enough, I won't have time to watch, maybe send them to ur fellow Mf****g empty pumpkin muffs🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.
Bapemnorsz
0
Mf they don't have time for nonsense, so it's you Mf with an empty head head that can complete the story for me, go on please🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.
mf I have videos f****** your mo**** black p**** just send me your email address I will send you her nu*** pics and videos and our s** videos.
MDChrisUtd
0
mf go ask your mo**** and fa**** they will tell you all my story how I f****** her hard and your fa**** just watched whole night you mf boy.
Mf they don't have time for nonsense, so it's you Mf with an empty head head that can complete the story for me, go on please🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.
RedzwanZorae
0
if they dont want u..just go.
MDChrisUtd
0
MF when you are still not born before that I have been watching football. so don't teach your father how to f***.
So you Mf wasted all those years before my birth watching a lot of football and you still learnt nothing🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.
Sazdloptz
2
Who cares?
Cube
2
We are not ready to progress as a club yet with that useless Spanish or Catalonia players favouritism.
eggosa91
0
playing in Europa and man united is dejong destiny he can't run from it 👌
Hobacstyz
1
this life no balance, when a player decide to leave a team, he is called all sorts of names but when a player decides to player for a team and the team is pushing him away although he is on a contract, nothing is said about it. my own Barcelona, xavi u are a racist and am disappointed in you as a coach and not as a player.
Jazyelavila
1
The club was looking for an exit for de jong because they could get more money from him and he didn’t want to take a salary cut. Which I think you should considering that you say you love the club and see there struggling just like every other player. But at this moment I do see him starting more games but let’s see either way because if he doesn’t take a salary cut his out I’m sorry but the truth
pabbdosty
0
Players do think they won’t age. Take a good deal and make something out of it. U only have few years till ur 30 and is over
zhan12345
0
so if we sold dejong it will be busquets playing dm for the rest of the season 😭😭😭, xavi stubbornness will lead us to nowhere
Bapemnorsz
0
Mf you doesn't know that Neves is not better than De Jong, Mf you doesn't know that it's not how good the players you buy that brings you trophies but how good you handle, mentor and improve even non world class players you buy if they have potential, if it was about buying quality and world class players, then City would be having at least 3 UCL trophies in the last 10 years, Mf you doesn't consider that. Actually Mf you has a really low understanding capacity of football, soo naive🤣🤣.
MF when you are still not born before that I have been watching football. so don't teach your father how to f***.
Jazyelavila
0
De jong come to United where you will start every match I’m just playing you will get benched like Casemiro Ronaldo and maguire
MAsyraaf17
0
MF when you are still not born before that I have been watching football. so don't teach your father how to f***.
Lol talking like u watch football that much. Then how come u think selling all of them and brought new players can fix the problems? Very simple minded ure, no wonder ur comment are all joke🤡
Bapemnorsz
0
MF dejong is most selfish player in this world very very very selfish than mbappe. I will give you reason why 1) He didn't went to united as they were playing europa league and stayed at barcelona and think he can get champions league with barcelona as barcelona brought many players this summer. 2) He didn't complain about lack of game until barcelona was in champions league even he knew he won't get time as he was made center back during pre season and now he is complaining about lack of games only after barcelona is again back at europa league. 3) He wants to leave barcelona to play team playing champions league after knowing barcelona is back at europa league. Just Wait and Watch guys this mf dejong will never get's succed in life and career due to his selfiness.
mf why he didn't went to chelsea and stayed barcelona I wrote everything see point no 1) last sentence now he will go to chelsea this winter why see point no 3) Just read if you know how to read mf
Bapemnorsz
0
Im Barca fans but ur opinion is kinda disgusting. U surely don watch football, u can see how good De Jong when he substituted in compared to Gavi, he bring the ball up and down consistently, create a chances and retention better than that Gavi who always loses ball easily. He is the heart of midfield alongside Pedri, will be such a loss for Barca to lose this gem
MF when you are still not born before that I have been watching football. so don't teach your father how to f***.
flourishdee
0
you should be ashame of yourself by forcing yourself on a club that does not want you, it shows that you lack self confidence to take your career to a place you would be more valued
I'm feeling the pain of a Man u fan😂
fuckyoubonori
1
stick little kitty there
Spengz
0
MF dejong is most selfish player in this world very very very selfish than mbappe. I will give you reason why 1) He didn't went to united as they were playing europa league and stayed at barcelona and think he can get champions league with barcelona as barcelona brought many players this summer. 2) He didn't complain about lack of game until barcelona was in champions league even he knew he won't get time as he was made center back during pre season and now he is complaining about lack of games only after barcelona is again back at europa league. 3) He wants to leave barcelona to play team playing champions league after knowing barcelona is back at europa league. Just Wait and Watch guys this mf dejong will never get's succed in life and career due to his selfiness.
He could have gone to Chelsea if he wanted to play ucl
pipadmprsu
0
you should be ashame of yourself by forcing yourself on a club that does not want you, it shows that you lack self confidence to take your career to a place you would be more valued
Exactly the same thought I have
MAsyraaf17
0
Xavi Hernandez blindness and greedy attitude towards Frenkin De Jong will definitely lead to his dismissal as a Barcelona coach sooner.
Yes, Im ready to see him got sacked ASAP. Good squad but not much improvement in tactics
MAsyraaf17
0
[image]
Lol Ozil is AMF, Iniesta CMF. How about u compare the stats of how much dribble completed, ball recovery, successful tackle etc? Don analyze by goal and assist only, they're midfielder not a forward.
Brazil4Everr
0
MF dejong cost us this champions league I will give you reason why 1) If he would have left barcelona this summer we would have enough money and salary space to buy world class defensive midfielder like neves so that we won't have to depend upon mf busquet until now 2) We can buy world class full backs so that we won't have to depend upon mf alonso mf alba mf roberto and mf bellerin
He cost you UCL because he didn't wanna quit his job? Because he didn't want to go to a team he doesn't like? Sell him to some club he actually wants to go to, and then have your money for your world class defensive midfielders. Useless team, you have bought everyone and their grandmas and you're still not satisfied.
Yodailmnps
6
you should be ashame of yourself by forcing yourself on a club that does not want you, it shows that you lack self confidence to take your career to a place you would be more valued
Adenekan99
0
MF dejong is most selfish player in this world very very very selfish than mbappe. I will give you reason why 1) He didn't went to united as they were playing europa league and stayed at barcelona and think he can get champions league with barcelona as barcelona brought many players this summer. 2) He didn't complain about lack of game until barcelona was in champions league even he knew he won't get time as he was made center back during pre season and now he is complaining about lack of games only after barcelona is again back at europa league. 3) He wants to leave barcelona to play team playing champions league after knowing barcelona is back at europa league. Just Wait and Watch guys this mf dejong will never get's succed in life and career due to his selfiness.
you are a clown if u doubt it read what you type. phones are not for everyone 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
MAsyraaf17
0
MF dejong cost us this champions league I will give you reason why 1) If he would have left barcelona this summer we would have enough money and salary space to buy world class defensive midfielder like neves so that we won't have to depend upon mf busquet until now 2) We can buy world class full backs so that we won't have to depend upon mf alonso mf alba mf roberto and mf bellerin
Im Barca fans but ur opinion is kinda disgusting. U surely don watch football, u can see how good De Jong when he substituted in compared to Gavi, he bring the ball up and down consistently, create a chances and retention better than that Gavi who always loses ball easily. He is the heart of midfield alongside Pedri, will be such a loss for Barca to lose this gem