Frankie De Jong washes Xavi of the blame for summer exit rumors
The Dutch midfielder came very close to Barca’s exit door as the club wanted to push him out to fix their financial struggle, especially with his salary and the offered €80m transfer fee. Accepting to lower his wages, de Jong believes the Barcelona hierarchy is to blame.
Barcelona wanted to sell
De Jonglast summer due to their financial situation. On the other side, Manchester United was the most interested club in him due to Eric Ten Hag’s relationship with De Jong and after weeks of negotiations they even reached an agreement with
Barcelonafor €80 million, but eventually, De Jong refused to leave the club.
With the
Netherlandsstarting their Qatar 2022 tournament on Monday against Senegal, the Dutch midfielder was puzzled about his situation at Barcelona last summer. De Jong told
De Telegraaf:
"I blame these people, but I have nothing to do with them.
"Yes, for me they are Barca because they run it. I don't see them when I'm at the club during my daily routine.
"Xavi, it's true that he left the door open to the possibility of me leaving because he never said 'Frenkie stays'. But I don't blame Xavi.
"I never had the feeling that Xavi was against me, and I think it was difficult for him to talk about all this."
De Jong concluded:
"I am very happy in Barcelona.
"When I play it is great and in terms of living here life is perfect. I see myself at Barca. Personally, I see myself here eight or 10 more years."
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