October 22, (THEWILL) – Barcelona president, Joan Laporta, has revealed the club turned down a €100m offer from Bayern Munich for midfielder, Frenkie de Jong, during the summer transfer window. The 26-year-old Dutch international has been a Barcelona player since joining from Ajax in 2019, and has often been linked with a move away.
However, speaking at the club’s general assembly, Laporta explained the La Liga giants opted to reject Bayern’s approach due to De Jong’s talent and strong performances. “We cannot improve sportingly if we do not do our homework economically,” Laporta said. “We have had the opportunity to sell Frenkie de Jong for €100m, and we did not want to do it so as not to lose our ability to be competitive.”
Manchester United had agreed an €85m fee to sign De Jong earlier in the summer, but the deal never materialised, partly due to the player’s wage deferral situation at Barcelona. De Jong has maintained his relationship with Laporta and the club is good despite reported efforts to move him on.
The midfielder recently returned from injury, but is currently sidelined again along with several other key Barcelona players ahead of Sunday’s league clash with Athletic Club. Laporta also hit out at rivals Real Madrid, claiming they are partly responsible for Barcelona’s recent charges over alleged payments to former refereeing officials.
With the club continuing to face financial difficulties, De Jong may still attract interest in future transfer windows. But for now, Laporta is keen to keep hold of the Dutchman due to his ability and influence in midfield.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
