Frenkie de Jong has responded to fresh rumors that Manchester United may try to recruit him from Barcelona this summer.
De Jong has been connected to a transfer to Old Trafford on several occasions since Erik ten Hag became the Premier League club’s owner.
Before parting ways, Ten Hag and De Jong had a successful partnership at Ajax, helping the Dutch team win both the league and the cup in 2019.
In the summer of that year, De Jong signed a €75 million agreement to join Barcelona, and three years later, Ten Hag was appointed manager of Manchester United.
Erik Ten Hag remains an admirer of De Jong and reports have claimed United are considering reviving their interest in the 27-year-old midfielder, having come close to bringing him to Old Trafford in the summer of 2022.
The Athletic say Barcelona’s board would sanction De Jong’s departure but the player appears to have no interest in leaving the Nou Camp.
Asked about his future at Barca, amid reported interest from Manchester United, De Jong said: ‘Staying at Barca? Yes, I’m very happy in Barcelona with my family, for sure.
‘[Barcelona boss] Hansi Flick wants me to be key. I talked to him. It was good.’
Speaking in May, Ten Hag confirmed he tried to sign De Jong in his first transfer window as Manchester United manager.
‘They would have been really connected with each other, they would have been really complementary with each other, absolutely,’ Ten Hag said of De Jong’s potential partnership with current United midfielder Casemiro.
‘But that is a typical player, if you want to play the Ajax style, you need that type of player, yeah.’
De Jong was hoping to be a key player for the Netherlands at Euro 2024 but missed the entire tournament after picking up an injury towards the end of last season.
‘I’m sad and disappointed that I won’t make it to the EC,’ De Jong posted on Instagram.
‘We’ve been doing a lot of it the past few weeks, but my ankle needs more time unfortunately. It’s a dream and greatest honor to represent our country in a final tournament.
‘Wearing the orange shirt, singing the Wilhelmus and feeling the support of the entire country. But now I will, like the entire orange legion, cheer for our team from the sidelines. Let’s go boys.’
De Jong has made 213 appearances for Barcelona and helped the Spanish giants win the La Liga title in 2023.