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Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has revealed the role he played in convincing Frenkie de Jong to turn down a move to Manchester United last summer. The Dutch midfielder was heavily linked with a reunion with his former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
De Jong, 25, was the Red Devils' top transfer target throughout the summer. However, the midfielder remained at the Camp Nou and has been a prominent member of Xavi's midfield this season.
Reports claimed that the Premier League giants agreed an €85 million deal with Barcelona. Ter Stegen touched on De Jong's situation when speaking ahead of Barcelona's clash with Manchester United in the Europa League knockout playoffs on Thursday (February 16).
He claims to have urged his teammate not to join Ten Hag's side, telling The Times:
"I was hoping he would stay because this is the type of player I want to have in my team. There were many rumours, discussions and whatever but I am just happy that he is here, and I don’t want him to leave."
De Jong has featured 26 times across competitions, scoring two goals and contributing an assist. Ter Stegen continued by joking about the lengths he would go to ensure that the midfielder remained with the Blaugrana:
"I want to make very clear, when I talked to him I tried to (make him stay). One day I will just put him in something here (he pretends to tie a rope around a chair leg) to keep him here always. I hope he will be here for a long time."
De Jong had always expressed his wish to remain at the Camp Nou. However, Barcelona's financial issues made the player potentially leaving and joining Ten Hag at Manchester United a reality.
The Dutch midfielder previously played under Ten Hag at Ajax, impressing with three goals and four assists in 59 games. He will now come up against his former manager for the first time when the Blaugrana and United meet on Thursday evening.
Manchester United's Marcus Rashford pulled out of Barcelona transfer in 2019
Rashford has been on fire for Manchester United this season, scoring 21 goals in 34 games across competitions. He will be the Red Devils' main attacking threat at the Camp Nou in the midweek clash against Barcelona.
However, the English attacker could have been playing for the Blaugrana on Thursday, as he was close to a move to the Camp Nou in 2019. Mundo Deportivo reports that Rashford was being lined up by the Blaugrana.
He was 21 at the time and had 18 months left on his contract. However, he reportedly decided against joining the Blaugrama, as he wasn't sure the move was right for him at that time.
Rashford has scored 114 goals in 337 appearances at Manchester United. He has won the UEFA Europa League, FA Cup and League Cup.
