Manchester United's summer transfer window can largely be deemed a success by manager Erik ten Hag.
The £70 million (€79 million; $84 million) committed to the signing of Casemiro from Real Madrid, in particular, has spurred the side on to what has been a successful season so far. Things could have been much different, though, had United not failed to complete a move for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
The Netherlands international worked alongside United manager Erik ten Hag at Ajax, and the pair enjoyed great success together before the Catalan club ended that working arrangement in the summer of 2019. Three years later, De Jong could have left Barcelona in their attempts the balance the books to register their several new signings, but the player stayed put.
READ MORE: United might have reversed roles with De Jong
The club's head coach Xavi claimed ahead of the first leg that De Jong never expressed an interest to leave the club and that the talk of an impending departure was largely fuelled by media speculation and the player's relationship with Ten Hag. Both clubs agreed on an €85 million (£75 million; $90 million) transfer fee, but the complicating factor of the player's wage deferral plus De Jong publicly expressing a preference to stay put could not be overcome.
Now, though, that opportunity may well have passed, with Barcelona heading in the right direction again and eight points clear of Real Madrid atop La Liga. De Jong did not particularly impress in the first leg either, so will be keen for an improved showing at Old Trafford en route to knocking United of the competition to perhaps hasten another attempt to tempt the player to Manchester 12 months on.
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