Manchester United Manager, Erik ten Hag, Reveals Failed Attempt to Sign Frenkie de Jong

Manchester United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, has disclosed the club’s unsuccessful pursuit of Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona in 2022. Ten Hag and De Jong enjoyed a successful two-year collaboration at Ajax, achieving the Eredivisie title and reaching the Champions League semi-finals.

United initially endeavored to secure the Netherlands midfielder before his high-profile transfer to Barcelona in 2019. Despite Ten Hag’s arrival at the club, United made another attempt to sign De Jong, but the deal never materialized.

Reflecting on the missed opportunity, Ten Hag envisioned De Jong alongside Casemiro in midfield, emphasizing their potential synergy. He highlighted De Jong’s suitability for the Ajax style of play and the complementary dynamic he could have brought to the team.

In an interview with Gary Neville on Sky Sports, Ten Hag expressed his admiration for De Jong’s playing style and underscored the significance of having a player of his caliber to execute Ajax’s distinctive approach to football.