New Barcelona signing Frenkie de Jong wants former Ajax team-mate Matthijs de Ligt to join him at the Catalan club this summer.
De Jong agreed on a move to Barca in January for €75million plus add-ons and was finally presented at Camp Nou on Friday, but De Ligt is yet to reveal where he will be playing in 2019/20.
Juventus had looked to be close to signing the 19-year-old defender, but Barca have not given up hope on signing the centre-back and president Josep Maria Bartomeu hinted earlier on Friday that he could yet arrive at the Catalan club this window.
"I expected you to ask me about De Ligt," De Jong said at the press conference after his unveiling. "I would be very happy to see him here, but it's not my choice. He has to decide, with his family, what is best for him."
For his part, the midfielder claimed he only ever wanted to choose Barcelona.
"It was always a dream for me to play for Barca," he said. "When they came and spoke to me, the decision was easy. There were several clubs interested, but when I spoke to them, it was easy to decide."
After agreeing his move in January, De Jong went on to help Ajax to the semi-finals of the Champions League, a run which included a memorable 4-1 win over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
"Lots of people from Barca congratulated me after we beat Real Madrid in the Champions League," he said. "The president called me after the match!"
De Jong admitted he would like to wear the number 21 shirt at Barca, but said he did not mind where he played.
"I see myself in midfield," he said. "But I don't mind if it is as a holding midfielder or as an attacking player. I just want to be in the starting XI. The best in the world are here and I'm here to fight for a place in this great team."
Asked if the prospect of playing with Lionel Messi had kept him awake at night, he said: "No! I'm excited to play with Messi, with all the players. They are all great players here. I'm looking forward to getting started."
