La Liga: Frenkie de Jong expresses his desire to retire at Barcelona

Dutch footballer, Frenkie de Jong has expressed his desire to remain at Barcelona for the rest of his football career.

The Netherlands international was heavily linked with a move away from Barcelona during last summer’s transfer window, with Manchester United heavily linked with his services.

While Barcelona was open to selling Frenkie de Jong due to their financial issues at the time, there are still speculations surrounding his future in the current market, with the Red Devils still believed to be monitoring the developments at Camp Nou.

Speaking with Spanish publication El Periodico, the 26-year-old confessed his undying love for Barcelona and also suggested that he want to spend his whole life at the club.

He said;

“Economically, Barca are not at their best. And they could get a lot of money for me. Maybe the club thought it was good to sell me and have that money. But I didn’t want to leave. I had always been clear about it. I didn’t want to. That’s why I was very calm. I had decided.

“I always wanted to be at Barca. In these first years [since joining from Ajax] we had not won La Liga, nor had we come far in the Champions League. We had only won one Copa del Rey.

“To succeed at Barca I had a lot left [to achieve]. And I also saw that the team was improving that summer. Players of a high level arrived, and that’s why I wanted to keep going.

“It’s my dream club and I want to be here all my life. I didn’t want to leave suddenly.” 

De Jong moved to Barcelona from Ajax in the summer of 2019, and he has represented the Catalan side on 183 occasions, scoring 15 goals and registering 21 assists in the process.

The midfielder was a vital player for Xavi’s side last season, featuring 43 times in all competitions, scoring twice and providing four assists.

Barcelona will begin their 2023-24 La Liga campaign against Getafe on Sunday night, and Xavi has said that he is expecting “a very complicated match”.