Erik ten Hag's hopes of bringing Frenkie de Jong to Manchester United in 2022 failed to materialise, despite extensive talks and the manager's personal efforts to convince the midfielder to leave Barcelona.
The early months of Ten Hag's United reign were dominated by speculation that De Jong would follow his former Ajax boss to Old Trafford. Having worked together at Ajax between 2017 and 2019, and with United needing midfield reinforcement, the link appeared logical. Barcelona was also eager to reduce its wage bill amid cost-cutting at the Nou Camp, making a transfer seem a matter of when, not if.
Why the Deal Collapsed
Despite Ten Hag arranging meetings, United could not complete a deal for De Jong. The midfielder opted to stay in Spain, where he has since rebuilt his relationship with Barcelona and become a key player, making almost 300 appearances. Ten Hag has been left to wonder what might have been had the Dutchman joined in 2022.
In a recent interview with The Athletic, Ten Hag insisted he did everything possible to make the transfer happen. He said: "Everyone's thinking the manager is doing the negotiations, that I'm involved in financial issues, but I was never. Of course, I did my best. I set up meetings with him, where it was Richard and John involved as well, to pursue him to come over. He could have been very important building the team, not only that year but for the future. But we didn't make it."
De Jong's Barcelona Dream
De Jong's attachment to Barcelona was rooted in the club's mystique for Dutch footballers, a legacy of Johan Cruyff. He described his 2019 move from Ajax as a dream come true, saying upon arrival: "I'm very excited about signing for Barca. I was very happy when I took the decision. I celebrated with my family, but not too much because we're still halfway through the season with Ajax. But I'm very happy. I've always dreamed about playing for Barca since I was little. I like the players and the club. It's the team of my dreams. I want to be an important player for Barcelona and win many trophies."
Three years into his spell, that dream came under threat as Barcelona sought to cut costs by offloading their highest earner. There was even talk of legal action after De Jong declined a pay cut. With United and Chelsea interested, many players would have left, but De Jong was determined to stay.
Wife's Public Signal
His then-girlfriend, now wife, Mikky Kiemeney, made their intentions clear during the speculation. She posted an Instagram video of the couple in their car and wakesurfing, writing: "Meanwhile... living our best life." Another clip was captioned: "Found another gem in Catalunya." More than four years on, she continues to share pictures of her family enjoying life in the city.
De Jong did hold talks with Ten Hag, chief executive Richard Arnold and football director John Murtough before deciding to stay. His determination to remain at Barcelona has since paid off, as he has become a lynchpin for the Catalans.
