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      Man Utd transfer target Frenkie de Jong slams ‘lies’ about Barcelona wages and explains why salary ‘looks bigger’

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      BARCELONA midfielder Frenkie de Jong has hit back at critics who claim he is refusing a wage cut.The 25-year-old Dutchman agreed a £400,000-a-week salary when he joined the Catalan giants back in 2019.
      De Jong has hit back at those accusing him of refusing a wage reductionCredit: AP
      He then penned a lucrative two-year extension during ex-president Josep Maria Bartomeu’s spell in charge of the club.
      But Barcelona’s crippling financial crisis resulted in De Jong being forced to take a wage reduction in each of his first three seasons.
      It means they are now required to pay those deferred wages to the player on top of his existing salary.
      As a result, De Jong, who was heavily linked with a move to Manchester United in the summer, will earn £16.8million net this season, followed by up to £21m in the following campaign – figures which include £17m worth of deferred payments.
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      And the midfielder has now set the records straight on the controversy surrounding his salary packet.
      Speaking to TV NOS, via Mundo Deportivo, De Jong said: “There have been many lies and falsehoods spread about my salary.
      “In each of the first three years I played here, I cut my salary. Eventually the money comes back, and it comes on top of my normal salary, so it looks bigger.
      “I think a lot of people don’t understand this, but the figures the media are spreading are false.”
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      Barcelona wanted to sell De Jong in the summer to alleviate their economic strain and enable them to register their host of new signings.
      But the former Ajax man made it clear his desire to stay at the Nou Camp, despite strong interest from Man Utd and Chelsea.
      And he recently revealed he felt during the transfer window that the club were trying to force him out the door.
      Last week, De Jong told Ziggo Sport: “I was calm. I decided in May that I wanted to stay. My opinion has never changed during this entire period.
      “I stayed calm. But then you know the pressure would start to come.
      “Yes, from the newspapers, from the president, exactly. From everywhere actually. But I wanted to stay at Barca so it never baffled me.”
      De Jong has started four of Barca’s eight LaLiga matches so far this season – including their 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in El Clasico on Sunday.
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      But it has been reported that he remains “disgusted” by his role in Xavi’s side, with competition rife alongside the likes of Sergio Busquets, Gavi, and Pedri.
      And that discontent in Spain could finally see him depart in the coming months. More

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      Too many ‘average’ games will see Man Utd miss out on top-four finish and Ten Hag must find solution before World Cup

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      DUTCH legend Frank de Boer described Manchester United as “average” in their game against Newcastle – he was right.And too many “average” games will see Man Utd miss out on a top-four finish or European football as a whole.
      Ten Hag’s side were labelled ‘average’ by a Dutch legendCredit: AP
      Boss Erik ten Hag has to find a solution before the World Cup, and he has five games to do so, with a number of clubs hot on United’s heels.
      The Dutchman’s side have had a mixed start to the season with their best wins coming against Arsenal and Liverpool.
      However, they’ve struggled against sides they’re favourites to beat and they were held to a 0-0 draw by the visiting Magpies while struggling to fashion clear-cut chances.
      In fact, Newcastle went closest with Joelinton striking the woodwork twice.

      United looked shaky at the back at times, and lethargic in front of goal, and better sides with more firepower will make them pay.
      Cristiano Ronaldo, who has struggled to get into games this season, was largely anonymous again and his supporting cast didn’t do much to help him either.
      The 37-year-old cut a frustrated figure as he was hooked with 20 minutes to go for Marcus Rashford, who seems to be Ten Hag’s preferred option ahead of the Portugal star, alongside Anthony Martial.
      The stalemate at Old Trafford leaves United three points off fourth place Chelsea and it keeps Newcastle within touching distance.
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      And rivals Liverpool may be down in 12th but you would be silly to rule out a revival and top-four charge from Jurgen Klopp’s men.
      Failure to secure a top-four finish and Champions League football this season could spell disaster both on and off the pitch.
      Financially, the Red Devils would take a hit with sponsors Adidas.
      Their sponsorship would fall 30 per cent, receiving £22.5million LESS.
      While on the pitch, it would all but end any chance of Ronaldo staying on at Old Trafford with missing out on Europe’s elite club competition last season being the driving factor behind pushing for a summer move.
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      Whether they’re in the fight for a top-four finish will become more apparent with games against third place Tottenham and Chelsea coming up back-to-back.
      United also welcome West Ham to Old Trafford on the 30th, who have seen their form drastically improve. More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo handed another brutal transfer snub as Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone rules out move

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      ATLETICO MADRID boss Diego Simeone has confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo will not be joining the club next summer.The Spanish giants were linked with an audacious swoop for wantaway Ronaldo during the summer transfer window, but many fans were strictly against the move.
      Ronaldo was linked with a move to Atletico MadridCredit: AFP
      Simeone has dismissed transfer rumoursCredit: Alamy
      One group of Atletico supporters even issued a statement suggesting that the Portugal skipper “represents the antithesis of the values” of the club.
      Although a move failed to materialise in the summer, Los Colchoneros have continued to be linked with Ronaldo, who spent nine years with the club’s rivals Real Madrid before moving to Juventus in 2018.
      Some reports have suggested that Atletico will look to complete a deal next summer.
      However, Simeone has since shut down all rumours, claiming that he has no interest in signing the Manchester United star.
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      The Argentine boss told Spanish football reporter Martin Liberman: “Cristiano Ronaldo’s possible arrival at Atlético in the summer?
      “The little birds told you anything far from what happened.
      “People speak sometimes to tell what they want to tell, not reality.”
      Ronaldo has been pushing for a move away from Old Trafford since July.
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      Numerous clubs expressed an interest in signing him, including Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Napoli, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona and Sporting Lisbon, but the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was not granted an escape route.
      Ronaldo has had to settle for limited minutes so far this season following the resurgence of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial. More

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      Man Utd send scouts to watch AC Milan striker Rafael Leao as Erik Ten Hag lines up summer transfer for £60m star

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      AC MILAN striker Rafael Leao is high on Erik ten Hag’s hitlist for next summer.Manchester United’s boss is already compiling a dossier on potential targets, including the 23-year-old Serie A star.
      Rafael Leao’s name is growing in European football as he continues to star for AC MilanCredit: Getty
      United had scouts at the San Siro on Tuesday night to watch Leao against Chelsea — as they did in the first Champions League meeting between the teams at Stamford Bridge earlier this month.
      Portugal international Leao is gaining a growing band of admirers with two of United’s big rivals, Manchester City and Chelsea, both among them.
      But ten Hag is a huge fan of the speedy left-footer, who can play down either flank as well through the middle.
      Leao is in the final 18 months of his AC Milan contract and has so far rejected improved terms.
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      The Italians are offering him a pay rise to around £110,000 a week to sign a new five-year deal. But Leao has given no indication of doing so.
      That has raised United’s hopes that he could be up for grabs next summer, with a fee of around £60m being mentioned.
      If Ten Hag did bring him to Old Trafford, it would raise further doubts about the long-term future of French striker Anthony Martial in particular.
      And SunSport revealed last week that David Beckham’s Inter Miami are eyeing a sensational swoop for Cristiano Ronaldo in January.
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      Meanwhile, Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw will be given another 12 months to prove they should be part of Dutchman Ten Hag’s renovation.
      Both full-backs are in the final year of their contracts at United and will be free to speak to interested clubs on the continent in January.
      Carrington insiders insist Dalot and Shaw want to stay and United’s option of 12-month extensions will ensure they do not lose them for nothing if they fail to convince the manager.
      United are looking to build on Europa League wins over Omonia Nicosia and the victory against Everton when face off against Newcastle at OId Trafford this afternoon. More

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      Newcastle boss Eddie Howe rules out sensational transfer move for wantaway Man Utd ace Cristiano Ronaldo

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      EDDIE HOWE does not want to sign ageing superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo to spark a Newcastle revolution.The minted Magpies are turning away from short-term fixes as they plot a way to the top of the tree.
      Eddie Howe has ruled out a transfer move for Cristiano RonaldoCredit: Getty
      Ronaldo asked to leave United in the summerCredit: Getty
      Howe admitted he is making special plans to stop 37-year-old Ronaldo at Old Trafford on Sunday.
      But he added: “It is not really a signing we would necessarily look to make.
      “We’re trying to provide long-term growth, we have got a longer-term vision.
      “We have quite an ageing squad, so we need to invest in more young players.
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      “That’s a big part of our progression — we need to get the average age down.”
      The Portuguese legend has played all but 30 minutes of Manchester United’s last three games — bagging his 700th club goal in the process.
      Ronaldo also scored twice in last year’s corresponding fixture against Newcastle, a 4-1 win for United, on what then seemed to be his stunning second coming at Old Trafford.
      And Howe added: “It just shows how good his record is, how good his career has been, it puts it in focus again.
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      “The quality is unquestionable and we are going to have to be very, very good against him if he plays.
      “We’re going to have to brief our defenders on the areas from where he wants to score. It’s something we have to be aware of.”
      The Red Devils just squeaked into the top six last season, while Liverpool’s struggles this term might help open up a European spot for Toon.
      It is certainly where the ambitious and upwardly mobile Tynesiders hope to be by May.
      But Howe warned: “Liverpool will come again I’m sure, they’re still obviously an outstanding team.
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      “We’re very early in the season to make snap judgments on what’s going to happen.
      “However, it is very clear that we want to be there, we’re trying everything we can to be the best team we can be. But the competition is also very strong.” More

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      Ander Herrera names the future Man Utd legend in Erik ten Hag’s squad and reveals ‘optimism’ under new manager

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      ANDER Herrera believes Marcus Rashford can become “one of the biggest Manchester United players” in the club’s 144-year history.The former Old Trafford favourite has backed Rashford and says it’s unfair to compare him to the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
      Ander Herrera remains ‘optimistic’ about Manchester United’s future despite trophy droughtCredit: YouTube
      He predicts Marcus Rashford will be a Manchester United legendCredit: EPA
      Speaking to ESPN, Herrera, who left United for PSG in 2019, says: “Sometimes we are not fair with some players – we are not fair with Marcus or – I could give you more examples – with Vinicius [Junior] or with these kinds of players you cannot compare them with Messi or Cristiano.
      “It’s like Spanish midfielders, we are compared with Xavi [Hernandez] and [Andres] Iniesta. We are going to lose [that comparison], of course.
      “You have to judge them individually. Marcus can be a fantastic player for Manchester United. He is, in fact – he has done some amazing things at the club.”
      Rashford, 24, has been a familiar face in the squad since 2016, scoring 98 goals in 313 matches.
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      Last season he received criticism following a difficult spelt but has found his feet again, scoring five goals and making three assists in ten appearances.
      Herrera, who is now on loan at Atletico Bilbao, predicts glory for his former team-mate under the guidance of United forward Ronaldo.
      He added: “Marcus has everything to become one of the biggest United players in history and as you say before, he is back at his best – he’s scoring, he’s helping the team.
      “He makes a difference when he’s in the moment and now he has the best teacher in the team, with the best example from Cristiano.”
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      Despite a long trophy drought for The Red Devils, Herrera remains “optimistic” about his former club’s future under new coach Erik ten Hag.
      Sitting fifth on the ladder, Manchester United have won seven of their last nine matches with Herrera adding that Liverpool’s resurgence after a 30-year lull should inspire the team to hold on to their Premier League dreams.
      He says: “It’s true there’s been three, four years without trophies but things take time.
      “Liverpool… they were a long time without trophies, they continued doing the things and they did great and now they have trophies back.
      “I’m sure United will do the same and it will not take 30 years.”  More

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      Frenkie de Jong says he knew Barcelona would ‘pressure’ him to leave amid Man Utd transfer interest

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      BARCELONA star Frenkie de Jong has claimed he knew Barcelona were going to “pressure” him into leaving. The club wanted to sell him to Manchester United over the summer but De Jong did not want to go.
      Frenkie de Jong has hit out at Barcelona for trying to make him leaveCredit: AFP
      The central midfielder has spoken out as he has been regularly left out of the starting XI by manager Xavi in big games.
      He has admitted he saw this situation coming after being shown the exit door with Pedri and Gavi ahead of him in the pecking order.
      De Jong told Ziggo Sport: “I was calm. I decided in May that I wanted to stay. My opinion has never changed during this entire period.
      “I stayed calm. But then you know the pressure would start to come.
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      “Yes, from the newspapers, from the president, exactly. From everywhere actually. But I wanted to stay at Barca so it never baffled me.”
      De Jong has not played in crucial Champions League ties against Bayern Munich or Inter Milan.
      Meanwhile in LaLiga he was benched against Sevilla and there are doubts over his place in the side tomorrow for the El Clasico versus bitter rivals Real Madrid.
      He has played 10 times this season, scoring one goal but just four have been starts – most coming versus weaker opponents like Viktoria Plzen, Cadiz and Elche.
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      De Jong continued: “I want to be a starter again. Against Bayern, I was not a starter and I hope to be against Real Madrid.
      “Maybe he [Xavi] has already decided, but normally we don’t know until the day of the game.”
      Spanish outlet Sport claims the Dutchman is “disgusted” at his lack of minutes this season.
      This all comes amid a row over unpaid wages that De Jong is still owed after taking a deferred pay cut to help the club with their financial woes.
      Man Utd chased the signing of De Jong throughout the most recent transfer window and despite sizeable bids they could not get the deal over the line.
      Erik ten Hag appeared desperate to work with the 25-year-old again, as he did at Ajax, but he still chose Barca with United not having Champions League football this season. More

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      Newcastle are silent assassins in transfer market and are contrast to Man Utd who have four major problems, says Deeney

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      WHEN I was growing up, I always had a bit of a thing for Newcastle United.Though always a Birmingham City fan, I loved watching the Toon on the TV during the eras of Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson.
      Bruno Guimaraes has starred in the Newcastle midfield since joining from LyonCredit: PA
      Some of my favourite strikers played for the Magpies particularly Alan Shearer and Les Ferdinand.
      The fanbase was passionate and the football was thrilling even if, ultimately, they never won any trophies.
      When Watford were promoted to the Premier League in 2015, going to St James’ Park was one of the fixtures I was most looking forward to.
      It’s a monster football stadium and going there you knew you were in the big time.
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      But that was during the Mike Ashley era, so while there were still 50,000 Geordies inside and there was always a decent atmosphere at the start, we always felt we could win – and we usually did. ­
      The Newcastle crowd would quickly grow frustrated  and it was obvious why – the club had no sense of direction and no ambition.
      In the last year, all of that has changed and I am hugely impressed by the way that Newcastle are managing their influx of Saudi cash.
      Remember when Manchester City were the Premier League club to suddenly become super-rich after the Abu Dhabi takeover?
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      Sir Alex Ferguson quite rightly called them the ‘noisy neighbours’, they wasted a lot of money on the wrong sort of players and Ballon d’Or winner Kaka was even accused of bottling it for refusing to join them.
      Sure, City are a brilliantly-run club and a wonderful team now but, for those first few years, they didn’t handle their wealth too well.
      There is none of that with Newcastle, while City were ‘noisy’, this lot are silent assassins in the transfer market.
      When it has come to recruitment, her best call was taking sporting director Dan Ashworth from Brighton, where he did such a great job and at the FA before that.
      Ashworth is one of the best operators in the business, an intelligent bloke who understands how to build a club. As a result, I haven’t even seen Newcastle seriously linked with ‘Galacticos’ like Kylian Mbappe.
      They have got on with recruiting very good players from the next bracket down – Bruno Guimaraes is clearly an absolute star in midfield and I really like the look of Alexander Isak up front.
      Eddie Howe is transforming Newcastle into a club that can challenge for EuropeCredit: PA
      Newcastle’s defence also looks solid after some cute buys in that department too.
      I had reservations about Eddie Howe as manager of this ‘project’ as I’d heard, from people who’ve played under him, that he might not be the man to handle more experienced players, but he is proving me wrong too.
      As a result, Newcastle head to Manchester United and it feels like a genuinely big fixture again, more like it used to be when Keegan and Ferguson used to compete for the title.
      The Toon have only won once at Old Trafford in the last 50 years but you would not be surprised if they were victorious there this weekend and it would be a massive statement if they were.
      I still believe it will take about three seasons before Newcastle break into the Champions League places.
      There are already six clubs who feel they ‘belong’ in the top four and pretty soon, Newcastle will be the seventh — that level of competition is extreme and it will be tough to make that breakthrough.
      But Newcastle are going about things in the right way — in stark contrast to United over the past nine years.
      I like what I see from Erik ten Hag so far but it is clear that he has grave reservations about his backline with probably Lisandro Martinez the only defender he is entirely convinced about.
      Erik ten Hag is still trying to implement his style at Old TraffordCredit: AFP
      We do not know yet whether Casemiro is up to speed and whether he is ‘the answer’ to United’s long-standing midfield problem and up front it’s clear Ten Hag hasn’t settled on the central striker or the wide-left player he wants.
      It will take United two or three good transfer windows until they can truly compete at the very top again.
      And then there is the problem of off-loading so many good players, on very good money, who have not convinced at Old Trafford.
      If I was in the position of someone like Aaron Wan-Bissaka — who could end up as a forgotten man — I’d probably sit tight, knowing I’m being paid well. Most players would.
      But thanks to the intelligent work of Staveley, Ashworth and Howe, that is not likely to be a problem Newcastle are going to face.
      Quietly, they are transforming Newcastle into the club they deserve to be — and the club I remember them being when I was a kid. More