Barcelona chief drops De Jong bombshell & speaks out over Raphinha pursuit
Comments on the part of Barcelona president Joan Laporta have given rise to quite the wave across the fanbase of Premier League giants Manchester United this evening.
This comes with the Spanish patron having provided an insight into the ongoing transfer speculation surrounding Frenkie de Jong.
For several weeks now, the name of midfielder De Jong has of course taken its place centre stage in the European media chatter. This comes amid the widespread understanding that the aforementioned United are inching towards a deal for the Dutch international.
Some outlets have even gone as far as to suggest that an agreement between the two parties is as good as closed, with De Jong primed to reunite with ex-Ajax boss Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
▫️ Agreement more than close since Monday between Man United and Barcelona for Frenkie de Jong on €65m fixed fee, but €20m add-ons structure to be discussed… and then personal terms;
▫️ Lisandro Martínez: bid set to be submitted.
More on Man Utd 🔴↪️ https://t.co/tLQq287SRg pic.twitter.com/QthB0wUj54
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 2, 2022
If Barca chief Laporta’s latest comments on Saturday evening are anything to go by, though, then such reports couldn’t be further from the truth.
Speaking to the media a short time ago, the Blaugrana’s president was inevitably asked for the latest on De Jong’s situation, and whether the 25-year-old’s exit is indeed, as reported, imminent.
Remarkably, though, Laporta went on to reveal that he and the transfer team at the Camp Nou ‘have no intention of selling him’.
Not only that, but FdJ himself ‘wants to stay’, with the club therefore ready to do whatever it takes to keep hold of a player evidently deemed as key to Xavi Hernandez’s project moving forward.
Barça president Laporta on de Jong: “There are many clubs that want him, not just Man United. We have no intention of selling him, he wants to stay”. 🚨 #FCB
“I’m going to do everything to keep Frenkie, but there’s also a salary issue and that would have to be adjusted”. #MUFC pic.twitter.com/zG4mmo6Rfj
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 2, 2022
Laporta’s transfer market comments did not end there, though.
This comes with the 60-year-old having too opened up on Barcelona’s ongoing pursuit of Leeds United star Raphinha.
It is of course common knowledge that the Catalan giants are eyeing the signature of wide-man Raphinha this summer, amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding the future of free agent Ousmane Dembele.
The La Liga heavyweights, though, are not alone in their pursuit of the Brazilian international, with both Arsenal and Chelsea too pushing hard for his signature with a view to next season.
In turn, it came as little surprise when Laporta confirmed that the club’s board have spoken with their Leeds counterparts regarding a potential deal.
More significant, though, was the reiteration that Raphinha himself ‘wants to come to Barca’.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta: “Raphinha wants to come at Barça. We have communication and have spoken with Leeds”. 🚨🇧🇷 #FCB
“What’s there is that there are other clubs that want Raphinha and are making their proposals”.@ReshadRahman_ pic.twitter.com/lO8d7LqEC4
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 2, 2022
