Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has finally spoken out on months of rumours linking him with a move to Manchester United, saying that there was a campaign in the Spanish media to undermine his position at Barcelona.
The 25-year-old was heavily linked with a big-money move to Old Trafford, but the transfer fell through because he insisted on staying at Camp Nou.
Barcelona were said to be eager to sell the Netherlands international, who is said to be one of the club’s biggest earners, earning in the region of £400,000 per week.
Over the summer, it was revealed that De Jong will be owed about £17m in deferred wages, an agreement mutually agreed upon by all sides following the coronavirus pandemic.
However, De Jong has spoken out against the salary rumours, claiming that the figures reported in the media are “false.”
“There have been many lies and falsehoods spread about my salary,” the Dutchman told TV NOS, according to Mundo Deportivo.
“In each of the first three years I played here, I cut my salary. Eventually the money comes back, and it comes on top of my normal salary, so it looks bigger.
“I think a lot of people don’t understand this, but the figures the media are spreading are false.”
In an interview with ZiggoSport, De Jong stated, “I don’t think I am Barca’s best paid player after [Lionel] Messi”, who departed the Catalan giants to join Paris Saint-Germain last summer.
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De Jong is under contract at Camp Nou until the summer of 2026, but speculation over his future professional move lingers.
Man United are thought to be pondering another January bid for the midfielder, while Liverpool are the latest team to be linked with a move.
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