Xavi appears to have no intention of selling. The Barcelona coach considers the midfielder a ‘key player’.
This week, the newspaper AS wrote that Barcelona is prepared to say goodbye to De Jong. There could be several reasons for this. For example, he earns a large salary, his sporting performance is not at the desired level and De Jong has not become the leader that was hoped for when he was brought in in the summer of 2019. The departure of his direct competitor Sergio Busquets has also not prompted him to take that step. Furthermore, the 26-year-old playmaker is increasingly struggling with injuries.
Xavi will be asked about that reporting on Sunday. In any case, he denies that De Jong’s performance is substandard. “Frenkie is a key player for me. That hasn’t changed, he is crucial to me. He has been unlucky with many injuries, but he always reaches a top level. I see him as a crucial player.”
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According to AS reporting, there is no shortage of clubs that want to take over De Jong, although the newspaper did not mention any specific names. Previously, Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United, Chelsea and Bayern Munich were mentioned as possible destinations for the Dutch international.
It became a thing of the past FC Barcelona even more painful after the elimination by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
