Frenkie De Jong’s transfer saga lasted for the whole summer, with Barcelona desperate to get him off the books and first Manchester United and then Chelsea interested in signing him.
But according to the player himself, all the summer of fuss was a waste of time, as he had already made his mind up about staying to fight for his place.
“I was calm. I decided, in May, that I wanted to stay,” the Dutch international said in quotes picked up by Football.London.
“My opinion has never changed during all this period – I remained calm,” he added. “But then you know that the pressure would start coming. Yes, from the newspapers, from the president. From everywhere in fact. But I wanted to stay at Barça, so it never baffled me.”
The whole thing is interesting because of the possibility of reigniting the deal next summer. Barcelona have used the midfielder even less than expected this year, driving his price down and increasing his desire to leave.
Should Jorginho not sign a new contract with us, he will be free to go next summer, and could well see De Jong chosen as a replacement for him at the base of midfield.
