De Jong chat with Van de Beek goes a long way to explaining Man Utd hesitation

Frenkie de Jong did not give Donny van de Beek any advice about moving to Manchester United, with the Barcelona star now linked with his own switch to Old Trafford.

The Dutchman has been in Catalunya for the last three years after bursting onto the scene in the same Ajax side that also saw Van de Beek thrive. The latter left Amsterdam in 2020, joining the Red Devils for £40m as he sought a new challenge.

De Jong was consulted about the move having left Ajax for a European giant just 12 months prior. He had little to say at the time but is now being touted as a target for the Red Devils. A central midfielder is on the club's shopping list as Erik ten Hag eyes a reunion with his former player.

"I spoke to Donny [Van de Beek] about his transfer," conceded De Jong back in 2020. "This is a beautiful transfer and we are all very happy for him. Did he ask me for advice? No, no, he can think by himself."

Van de Beek's time in Manchester has turned into something of a nightmare. He scored on his debut but opportunities have been sporadic as he remains behind Bruno Fernandes in the pecking order. A move was denied last summer amid promises of more involvement.

Yet he failed to start a single Premier League game and left on loan for Everton mid-season as he sought more minutes. Ten Hag's arrival is set to hand the versatile star a fresh chance to impress, but those experiences could yet have left their mark on De Jong.

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The Barcelona midfielder has endured a mixed time in Spain with the Catalans in the midst of a transitional period amid huge financial difficulties. Silverware has been at a premium and boss Xavi confessed that the balance sheets could yet force their hand as De Jong is linked with a move away.

"For me [De Jong] is a very important player," Xavi told a news conference recently. "He's almost always been a starter, except when I've rotated [the team]. He is a fundamental player, but then there is the financial situation of the club. Not just with Frenkie, I mean in general. He's a player I like a lot, but we'll see how the situation is."

United are poised to lose Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic this summer, which leaves them light in the middle of the park. Scott McTominay and Fred have often been a go to pair but a lack of strength in midfield has been highlighted as an issue previously.