Barcelona president Joan Laporta rules out Frenkie De Jong exit amid Manchester United links

Frenkie de Jong-Barcelona

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has been linked with a move away from the Spanish club this summer.

According to the latest reports, Premier League clubs like Manchester United are thought to be keen on signing the Dutch international midfielder.

However, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has now confirmed that the Catalan La Liga giants have no intention of selling the 25-year-old this summer. Still, the player might need to accept a pay cut to continue at Camp Nou.

According to a clause in the midfielder’s contract, the Dutchman is set for a major pay rise this summer. Still, Barcelona are going through financial limitations, and they will not be able to accommodate his pay rise.

Laporta has revealed in an interview that the Dutchman is recognised as a world-class player and wants to continue at the Spanish club beyond this summer.

“We have no intention of selling him and he wants to stay. Manchester United are not the only ones who want him,” Laporta insisted to Marca.

It will be interesting to see if the two parties can reach an agreement in the coming weeks.

De Jong has been heavily linked with a reunion with the former Ajax manager Erik Ten Hag at Old Trafford. It is no secret that Manchester United need to sign a quality midfielder like him, and the Red Devils might be able to offer him a lucrative package as well.

However, they will not be able to provide him with Champions League football next season, and that could be a major obstacle in any potential transfer.

Barcelona are well aware of the growing interest in the talented young midfielder, and it will be interesting to see how they deal with the situation now. Losing a player of his quality could be a blow for Xavi Hernandez and his side, especially because they might struggle to find a replacement of his quality with their current financial resources.

There have been rumours in recent weeks that Barcelona could sell the Dutch international to finance a move for players like Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha. However, Laporta’s recent admission certainly rules out a departure in the near future.