MANCHESTER UNITED target Frenkie de Jong was played out of position in pre-season with Xavi preferring SIX other midfielders.
Barcelona have reportedly agreed a deal worth an overall £72million with the Red Devils for De Jong, 25.
Frenkie de Jong has only 45 minutes of pre-season football under his belt and was played out of position Credit: Getty But personal terms are still claimed to be an issue, with an ongoing dispute over unpaid wages.
The playmaker has rarely been used during pre-season – in a potential sign that the skint LaLiga team want rid of his contract.
Xaxi left De Jong out of the club’s first friendly contest against local Girona-based side Unio Esportiva Olot last week.
And then the Dutchman was only introduced off the bench for the second half of Barca’s 6-0 smashing of Phil Neville’s Inter Miami.
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Piers Morgan REVEALS Ronaldo’s future, Forest make Lingard PROPOSAL New signing Franck Kessie played in a holding midfield role alongside starlets Nico Gonzalez and Pedri.
Then as De Jong was utilised as a central defender, Xavi later went with Sergio Busquets, Gavi and Pablo Torre in the middle.
The Catalan club are said to be unwilling to commit to pay the midfielder £14.5m he is owed following a restructure of his contract.
De Jong recently ‘liked’ a post on Instagram that said: “I dislike the way we have handled Frenkie’s situation”.
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FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
The Dutchman wants £24million from Barcelona having taken a reduction in wages during the pandemic on the understanding that the shortfall would be paid later.
The Spaniards want United to pay the money, but Old Trafford chiefs are refusing.
Nou Camp bosses are refusing to pay him the money he is owed, while splashing out close to £100m on Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski.
They’ve also taken on the wages of free agent signings Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen.
And De Jong himself appears to be growing increasingly frustrated by the situation.
The former Ajax man is now even said to have concerns over the “erratic” way in which United is run and may prefer a move to Chelsea.
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Fans beg former Love Island stars to get together as they meet up after show The Netherlands international is not thrilled with the idea of moving to Manchester nor the fact he would have no Champions League football.
The 25-year-old is not closed to the idea of signing at Stamford Bridge and appreciates the project that new owner Todd Boehly is building.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
