FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has insisted he never wanted to sell midfielder Frenkie de Jong despite speculation linking the Netherlands international with a move away from the Spanish club last summer.
Frenkie de Jong had attracted transfer interest from Premier League giants Manchester United during the summer transfer window of 2022. The Red Devils reportedly made De Jong their primary transfer target as they looked to bolster their squad.
Manchester United had reportedly reached an agreement with Barcelona over the transfer fee, but a move for Frenkie de Jong never materialized. The Dutch midfielder had insisted he wanted to stay at Barcelona despite transfer interest from Manchester United.
De Jong eventually ended up staying at Barcelona while Manchester United landed Casemiro and Christian Eriksen to bolster their midfield department in the summer transfer window.
Joan Laporta explains why Barcelona never wanted to sell Frenkie de Jong
Speaking to Barca TV, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has now insisted he never wanted to sell Frenkie de Jong.
The Barcelona president also heaped praise on De Jong, who he labelled as one of the club’s mainstays while explaining why they never considered parting ways with the 25-year-old.
“I have never wanted to sell Frenkie de Jong because he is one of the mainstays we have, he is one of the great talents, young and called to be like he is already one of the team leaders,” Laporta told Barca TV.
Meanwhile, De Jong has featured in 17 games across the Champions League and La Liga for Barcelona so far in the 22/23 season. He has also scored two goals and registered an assist in the 22/23 season. Of his 17 appearances, 11 were as a starter while the rest were in the role of a substitute.
De Jong, who joined Barcelona in 2019, has a contract until 2026 with the Catalan outfit. That means he has more than three years left on his current deal with the Spanish heavyweights.
Meanwhile, Barcelona sits first in the La Liga points table with 37 points from 14 matches in the Spanish top flight. They enjoy a two-point lead over defending champions Real Madrid, who occupy the second place with 35 points from 14 matches.
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