Manchester United target has gone from ‘transferable’ to ‘indisputable’ at Barcelona

It was less than a year ago that Barcelona were ready to part ways with a certain Frenkie de Jong. The 25-year-old had completed three years at the club last summer but was seen as a sellable commodity as manager Xavi Hernandez sought the signing of Bernardo Silva.

Indeed, the Blaugrana put De Jong up for sale and even reached a total agreement with Manchester United over a transfer. But, the midfielder refused to leave and dug his heels in as he wished to succeed at his dream club.

De Jong found himself being played at centre-back during pre-season while he was benched by Xavi early in the season, with the transfer window still open. But, nothing would change the former AFC Ajax star’s stance on his future and the window ended with him remaining a Barcelona player.

Now, according to Ferran Correas of SPORT, De Jong has gone from being seen as a transferable player last summer to becoming an indisputable part of Xavi’s team at Barcelona.

Indeed, after the summer transfer window closed, the Netherlands international gradually grew in stature in the team and has gone on to establish himself as an undisputed starter in the middle of the park.

The recent tactical switch made by Xavi, wherein he deploys four central midfielders, has worked in favour of the Dutchman, helping him showcase his best qualities.

Manchester United, for their part, continue to admire De Jong and still harbour hopes of signing him.

But, Barcelona see the midfielder as a fundamental part of the team under their club legend and are not going to consider any offers or proposals for him, despite the need to sell players in the summer.

De Jong himself made it abundantly clear in a recent interview that he wants to be a Culer for a long time, as he said: “I’m very calm here, very happy at Barça. I want to stay at Barcelona for many more years.”