Barcelona president Joan Laporta says there is a ‘big chance’ that Frenkie de Jong will stay with the club this summer, although he admits that ‘in football you never know’, as Manchester United Still interested in the midfielder.
The Red Devils have been chasing the Dutchman all summer, but the move to England seems less and less likely as the transfer window progresses.
The clubs had agreed on a broad deal to bring De Jong to Old Trafford, but it never seemed that the 25-year-old was so excited that he was leaving the Camp Nou for Manchester.
Laporta is now insisting that Barcelona want to keep the Dutchman and says the player also wants to stay, so there is a good chance that will happen.
“The first thing we have to say is that we want Frenkie to stay at Barcelona. We love the player and him as a person,” Laporta told CBS Soccer.
“I want him to stay at Barcelona. He is a high quality player and a good guy. I also know that he wants to stay.
You never know in football. I can’t say it categorically [he will stay]. It all depends on the different parties.
“But in principle I can say that there is a good chance that he will stay and I will do my best to make him stay” Barcelona.’
With Barcelona’s finances in a unique and unenviable state, the club has asked De Jong for a pay cut, but Laporta insists there is no pressure on him to do so.
“Everything we do with Frenkie is the same as the rest of the squad,” he explained. ‘The incoming signings have adjusted their salary to the new structure. But Frenkie has a contract and we respect that. We can’t force him to take a pay cut. It’s his decision.’
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