Man United given Frenkie de Jong transfer answer as Erik ten Hag handed reunion verdict

Barcelona sporting director Deco has insisted that Frenkie de Jong will remain at the club and will decide on a new contract "at the right time."

The Dutch midfielder has been heavily linked with Manchester United in the past with the club agreeing a fee with Barcelona in June 2022 but a transfer never materialised. There were tentative links again this summer before United signed Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain.

De Jong rose to prominence under United boss Erik ten Hag at Ajax, where he helped the Eredevise side reach the Champions League semi-finals in 2019. The 27-year-old joined Barcelona in July that year where he has won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup.

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And Deco has been left perplexed at any idea that De Jong could depart the Nou Camp. He also revealed that the Netherlands international will decide on a new contract "at the right time."

“I don't understand everything that is said about Frenkie de Jong," Deco said via Fabrizio Romano on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"He has a contract with Barcelona and we are very happy with him. The player will decide on the contract at the right time,

"There’s no problem. We love him very much."

De Jong has previously criticised reports suggesting that Barcelona may be open to selling him to their difficult financial situation.

“If I’m honest, I am getting quite irritated lately," he told reporters in February. "I am very angry at what you [media] write or say about me. There are a lot of stories that are simply not true. I simply can’t get my head around it.