Frenkie de Jong has shut down talk of a transfer to Manchester United - but refused to deny reports that he has been in contact with Erik ten Hag.
The 25-year-old is Ten Hag's top priority ahead of the summer transfer window, having worked with him to great success at Ajax before his transfer to Barcelona in 2019. But De Jong has made it clear that his preference is to remain at the Camp Nou, delivering a bruising blow to the Red Devils' after it was alleged that the midfielder had spoken to Ten Hag regarding a move to Old Trafford.
"I prefer to stay in Barcelona, I've said it before," De Jong told ESPN. "Barca is the club of my dreams since I was little. If other clubs call I'll take the call, of course; it's something that's always done.
"Of course I hear about the links to Manchester United, but the people in charge of the club [Barcelona] didn't tell me anything. So then I will assume there is no agreement, and that nothing is going on. So then I won't worry about it too."
When asked if he had been in contact with Ten Hag, the Dutch playmaker replied: "I won't tell you this. I wouldn't tell you this if it was about another manager or club too."
De Jong is currently on international duty for Holland and set to feature in four Nations League matches against Belgium, Wales and Poland over the next fortnight. Back in Catalonia, reports claim that Barcelona would be willing to accept a return on their £65million investment in the Netherlands international three years ago.
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Blaugrana boss Xavi Hernandez also wants to keep De Jong in his squad amid suggestions that his sale would fund a transfer for striker Robert Lewandowski. Barcelona's financial predicament means that they would need to shift a high-earning member of the squad in order to meet Bayern Munch 's demands of at least £30m and could therefore be forced to sell their No.21, despite their manager's wishes.
"Is De Jong non-transferable? Yes, for me he is a very important player, he has been a starter in nearly every game apart from when he needs to rest," Xavi affirmed to a news conference earlier this month. "He is fundamental to the team, but then there is the economy to consider.
"He is an important player who can mark an era at the club and I like him a lot, but in the end, we all depend on the economic situation."
