Why Frenkie de Jong turned down Man United, transfer stance U-turn and Barcelona frustration

The transfer saga of Frenkie de Jong to Manchester United has been one of the most enduring and convoluted in recent memory.

The Barcelona midfielder has been linked with a high-profile move to Old Trafford for nearly half a decade , but it has yet to materialise. Speculation intensified when Erik ten Hag, who had built his initial Ajax team around De Jong, took over at United, but still, no transfer occurred.

It wasn't through a lack of trying, however. United earmarked the Dutchman as a potential marquee signing numerous times, while Barcelona were eager to cash in on him amid a backdrop of financial difficulties.

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Ultimately, though, fate stood in the way of the deal. Here, MEN delves into the saga, exploring why the deal never happened and whether we might see 27-year-old De Jong donning a United shirt in the future.

United's interest in De Jong can be traced back to 2018, shortly after he broke into Ajax's first team. The club sent scouts to watch the young player during the Netherlands' Nations League campaign that year.

One of these scouts, Derek Langley, was reportedly so impressed by De Jong's abilities that he immediately recommended him to the club's management. Intriguingly though, he was released from the club a few months later amid reports of a stern conversation with then chief-executive Ed Woodward about overlooked transfer targets.

In January 2019, midway through Ajax's memorable Champions League semi-final campaign, De Jong secured a "dream" transfer to Barcelona, where he was seen as the successor