De Jong next? The 8 players to play for both Man Utd and Barcelona

Manchester United and Barcelona are, probably, the two biggest clubs in world football. It’s therefore no surprise that midfielder Frenkie de Jong has been linked to United and, if the transfer comes off, he will join only the eight other players who have ever played for both United and Barca.

Those include heroes at both, to names either side would rather forget ever played for them and, while both clubs have a long history of developing their own talent, they’ve also got a tradition of spending big in the transfer market, and at times, that includes spending their money with each other.

If De Jong joined he would be joining back up with Erik ten Hag, his manager at Ajax who will become Manchester United’s next permanent boss at the end of the 2021-22 season.

So who are the eight players De Jong could join in wearing the colours of both Manchester United and Barcelona? We had a look to find out, and to remember how they did at both clubs.

Younger readers might only really recognise Hughes from his time as Man City manager. What a shame that is, because in his heydey he was one of the finest attackers of his generation.

He came through United’s youth academy and impressed in his early years, so much so that Terry Venebles’ Barcelona came calling in 1986 with an offer both Hughes and the club couldn’t refuse.

It didn’t go great for him and he was carted out to Bayern Munich the following year before he headed back to Manchester United, now managed by some guy called Alex Ferguson.

From that point on “Sparky” became a club icon, his status solidified when he scored a brace in the 1991 Cup Winners Cup final against who else but Barcelona.

Oh, and what a goal the second was too.

29 years ago today Mark Hughes wins the Cup