Frenkie de Jong is 'sickened' with Barcelona after a phone call from Xavi confirms a deal with Man Utd.
Manchester United and Barcelona have reached an agreement on the transfer of Frenkie de Jong, after the two clubs met in the Catalan capital on Monday to work out a deal.
Barcelona has left Frenkie de Jong 'disgusted' after Xavi Hernandez informed him of the club's decision to sell him to Manchester United over the phone.
De Jong returned to training at the club's facilities on Monday, before United transfer chiefs Richard Arnold and John Murtough flew to Barcelona to finalize the parties' agreement. They met with Barcelona president Joan Laporta, as well as transfer officials Mateu Alemany, Jordi Cruyff, and Rafa Yuste from the club.
United had already agreed to a £56.2 million transfer fee with Barcelona, with Catalan TV station TV3 reporting that a total package worth £72 million has now been agreed. Xavi called the player on Monday night to inform him of the situation.
Mundo Deportivo reports that the clubs met for the second time on Monday, following a meeting at the Via Veneto restaurant in Barcelona last Thursday. The representatives dined at the Triton restaurant near Camp Nou on Monday.
De Jong is said to have understood Barcelona's economic situation and the need for a sale, but he has been deeply dissatisfied with the way they have approached the transfer, and he is said to have been isolated in the negotiation process.
The player is said to have been grateful for United's interest in signing him, particularly that of new manager Erik ten Hag. It was previously reported that the player had already cleared out his locker at Barcelona, with a move to Old Trafford looming. Ten Hag coached De Jong at Ajax and called the player to persuade him to join his project at Old Trafford.
De Jong, 25, was told he would be the 'conductor of the orchestra' and an undisputed starter under Ten Hag, a role similar to the one he had in Amsterdam. United officials are said to be confident that their patience in the negotiation process will pay off in the end.
Even though the Blaugrana have been bullish about the player in public, even insisting that he is not for sale, they have been open to his departure privately, and United are aware of this. They thought Laporta's insistence on not selling De Jong was a negotiating ploy.
This has been a long-running transfer saga, but it appears that United are getting closer to landing their man and making Ten Hag's first transfer window a historic one.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0