Manchester United manager disclose failed bids to sign Barcelona star Frenkie De Jong

Erik ten Hag says Manchester United attempted but failed to recruit Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona in 2022. Ten Hag, the Red Devils’ manager, supervised De Jong at Ajax for two years, during which time the pair won the Eredivisie and advanced to the Champions League semi-finals.

United attempted to acquire the midfielder prior to his big-money move to Barcelona in 2019, and were then embroiled in lengthy negotiations with the Spanish club in the summer of Ten Hag’s arrival, but the transfer never materialised.

De Jong was integral to Ten Hag’s possession-based style of play at Ajax, and his arrival in 2022 may have helped the United manager instill same ideals at Old Trafford. However, the Red Devils’ failure to find a midfielder of De Jong’s calibre to join Casemiro has resulted in a struggle to deliver dominant performances, with the team instead relying on a more direct playing style, prompting criticism of the management.

Ten Hag told Gary Neville in an interview with Sky Sports: “It would have been Frenkie de Jong and Casemiro [in midfield]. They would really be connected with each other. They would be really complementary to each other. That’s a typical player, if you want to play the Ajax style, you need that type of player.”

It is unclear whether Ten Hag will be United’s manager next season, and his future could be determined by a win over Manchester City in the FA Cup final on May 25. The Red Devils’ disappointing Premier League campaign continues next Monday with a trip to Crystal Palace, and a win will be required to catch Tottenham in fifth place, who are presently six points ahead.