Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Barca chief: I'll do everything to keep De Jong

Written by 
Published in Soccer
Saturday, 02 July 2022 20:03

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has insisted the club have no intention of selling Manchester United target Frenkie de Jong this summer.

Sources told ESPN earlier this week that United had agreed an initial €65 million fee with Barca for the Dutch midfielder, though it was said that there were still "significant" hurdles to overcome.

- Sources: Barca hope to raise €200m for transfers
- ESPN's Notebook: The inside stories from around the world
- La Liga on ESPN+: Stream LIVE games and replays (U.S. only)
- Don't have ESPN? Get instant access

De Jong, 25, is United manager Erik ten Hag's top summer target but he is also a target of other clubs.

"Frenkie de Jong is a Barca player and he is considered as one of the best players in the world," Laporta told reporters on Saturday. "We know other clubs wants him, not just [Manchester] United and we have no intention to sell him. I have a feeling that the player wants to stay.

"He is happy at Barca and I'm going to do everything I can for Frenkie to remain."

De Jong is under contract with Barca until June 2026 and has said publicly that he would like to stay at the Camp Nou.

Barca paid €75m for De Jong when they signed him from Ajax in 2019 with another €11m in potential add-ons.

United are looking to bolster their midfield after the departures of Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic at the end of the season. Matic has joined Roma on a free transfer while Pogba will join Juventus.

Barca sold 10% of their domestic television rights to Sixth Street last week for €207.5m and sources told ESPN on Friday that they are hopeful of selling another 15% of their rights in order to further ease their perilous financial situation and raise up to €200m for transfers.

Barca's gross debt still stands at around €1 billion and they are operating within a LaLiga salary limit of -€144m, which is the only negative cap in the league. The limits will be updated later this summer.

Barca face stern competition to sign Brazilian winger Raphinha from Leeds United this summer. Chelsea are reportedly prepared to pay £60m for the Brazilian winger while Tottenham are also monitoring the situation.

"We have spoken to Leeds," Laporta said of Raphinha. "We know he is a player that would like to come to Barca but there are also other clubs interested." Laporta clarified that Raphinha's potential arrival to the Camp Nou would not stop Barca from attempting to keep Ousmane Dembele at the club.

"It wouldn't exclude Dembele because the coach [Xavi] sees them as compatible," he said.

Dembele's contract at Barca expired last month and he is a free agent.

Barca coach Xavi is a big fan of Dembele, who scored two goals and set up 13 more in 32 appearances across all competitions this past season.

Laporta has not ruled out the French forward signing a new deal with Barca despite the player having so far rejected all contract extension offers.

"He [Dembele] is a person that we appreciate a lot," Laporta said. "He has played at a very high level in the second half of the season and the coach is really satisfied with him. It's a financial issue, he hasn't said yes or no to us. We have a good rapport with him and there is communication with his agents. If he accepts the conditions, we have presented to him, he will continue, if not, he won't.

"We don't have a deadline at all, not even for signings."

Barca are also chasing Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski and made a third offer for the Poland international this week with the total package worth over €40m.

"We know that he has publicly declared he wants to come to Barca and we are flattered but we have a lot of respect for Bayern Munich, one of the best clubs in the world," Laporta added Saturday.

Information from ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens was used in this report.

Read 159 times

Soccer

Tebas: LaLiga could play in U.S. as soon as '25

Tebas: LaLiga could play in U.S. as soon as '25

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLaLiga president Javier Tebas said the Spanish league is hopeful of...

Fernandes magic saves Man Utd in comeback win

Fernandes magic saves Man Utd in comeback win

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes came to his side's rescue with two goals in a 4-2 home vic...

Mbappé makes history to put PSG on brink of title

Mbappé makes history to put PSG on brink of title

Kylian Mbappé scored twice to make more history with Paris Saint-Germain and put the club on the ver...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Nets' Fernandez: Retaining Claxton a 'priority'

Nets' Fernandez: Retaining Claxton a 'priority'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- New Brooklyn Nets coach Jordi Fernandez wasted no time...

The biggest storylines coming into two massive Game 2s

The biggest storylines coming into two massive Game 2s

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder, the two 1-seeds in th...

Baseball

Jays place Kiermaier (hip) on IL, call up Barger

Jays place Kiermaier (hip) on IL, call up Barger

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Toronto Blue Jays placed outfielder Kevin Kiermaier on the 10-d...

Giants' Snell scratched from start, placed on IL

Giants' Snell scratched from start, placed on IL

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe San Francisco Giants scratched left-hander Blake Snell from his...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated