Erik ten Hag on Frenkie de Jong transfer saga ahead of reunion in Barcelona: 'I don't know if we wanted him'

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag heaped praise on «unique» Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong as he was quizzed on last summer's transfer saga. De Jong was heavily linked with an Old Trafford move throughout the transfer window, but the Netherlands international ultimately ended up staying put at Camp Nou.

Ad Ahead of the clash between the two clubs in Spain on Thursday night for the first leg of their Europa League play-off clash, Ten Hag was inevitably asked about his former Ajax charge. Premier LeagueRashford in elite group of Europe's best forwards — Ten Hag12/02/2023 AT 18:30 «I think we have a class in 2019 [at Ajax] that was a team with a lot of fascination and he brings a lot of that fascination, and I think he develops in the years after and here and in Spain he became even better,” Ten Hag said.

»He's a fantastic player, plays out from the back, he always has time and it was a pleasure to work with him." Xavi was asked about De Jong’s links to United earlier in the day and said “Frenkie wanted to stay with us, there was not a doubt.” Xavi lauds Man Utd's Rashford as 'one of the most dangerous players in Europe' How to watch Barcelona v Man Utd in the Europa League Asked for his perspective on why the much-anticipated move didn’t go ahead, a laughing Ten Hag replied: «I don't know if we wanted him.” He added: “Frenkie is an incredible player and for every club in the whole world he will strengthen the squad because he has a unique quality. If you can get him in the squad your team will be stronger.» Thursday’s clash marks a heavyweight encounter for such an early stage of European football’s second-tier tournament.