Reporter Han Bing reported that regarding the two sides of the Frenki De Jong deal, Manchester United had to buy it, so as to calm the fans' anger that Summer City did not sign a big name; Barca had to sell and trade in order to use the proceeds to sign Rafinha and other new signings. Financially strapped Barca want to get as much money as possible, and there is not much time left for United to bring in reinforcements. Against this backdrop, Manchester United CEO Alexander-Arnold and football director Motov went to Barcelona on Monday to have lunch with Barca's sports head Eust, sporting director Alemani and technical secretary Cruyff Jr. – both sides seem to be on the verge of success, but the matter seems to be far from being finalized.
According to the Telegraph, the two sides reached a rough consensus on the transfer fee, 85 million euros, which is almost the same price as Barca signed Frenki de Jong from Ajax three years ago (75 million + 11 million euros). Spanish TELEVISION 3 had already broadcast on Monday's evening news that United had reached an agreement with Barca, and the deal, which had dragged on for almost two months, appeared to have settled. The Spanish media did not disclose the specific basic transfer fee and floating terms, but the judgment given by the British media generally believes that it should be 65 million + 20 million euros, and most of the terms of the 20 million euros should also be triggered by lower conditions in order to be satisfactorily accepted by Barca.
But unlike other transfers, because Barca owe Frenki De Jong a huge annual salary, and Frenki De Jong's own reluctance to leave the team, it should be said that this transfer negotiation has just begun. On Monday, Frenki De Jong, who played in the Europa League in June, returned to Barca to report, but what awaited him was news of a deal between United and Barca on a transfer fee. In fact, Frenki De Jong already knew at the end of last season that he was a player barca had to sell this summer. Barca president Laporta's recent public statement of wanting to keep De Jong is more like a public opinion trick to force United to accept a higher offer.
From both Laporta and Harvey's perspective, Frenki De Jong had no reason to stay. Xavi's ability to Frenkie De Jong has not yet reached 100% recognition, and De Jong has also offended Laporta - after the defeat in the Western Super Cup in January, the Barca president personally went to the dressing room to applaud the players and encourage them to continue to work hard, but the Dutchman publicly refuted the chairman's face, saying that losing is losing, there is nothing to encourage.
But De Jong himself still wanted to stay. On the pitch, at least he can play the main force and the Champions League in this Barca team to prepare for the World Cup at the end of the year; Off the pitch, he had just bought a new property in Barcelona and his wife was very satisfied with life in Barcelona.
Of course, the real difficulty hindering De Jong's move to Manchester United is his salary. While United can offer him a higher salary than at Barca, Barca have been cut by a "late pay" style for the first two seasons. De Jong signed barca with a fixed salary of 14 million euros a year, but in the 2019/20 season Barca cut their salaries by 12% due to the COVID-19 epidemic, and the Dutch midfielder only received 12.32 million euros. De Jong had to renew his contract with Barca for two years on a deferred pay basis: for the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, he will reduce his salary by €3 million and €9 million respectively.
According to the epidemic contract agreed between Barca and the players, De Jong's salary is incremental, last season De Jong actually received 9 million euros, the new season can get 18 million euros, plus 3 million euros in bonuses, the new season annual salary will reach 21 million euros. In 2023/24, Barca will have to pay De Jong a total salary of 27.7 million euros, not counting the bonuses linked to appearances (60%) and trophies that will be generated next season. In addition, De Jong's contract has a bonus variable of up to 8 million euros per year, as well as a total of 15.58 million euros in loyalty bonuses. Barca's planned contract extension with a sharp pay cut starting next season simply cannot afford a contract like De Jong's that goes the other way.
Barca will have a harder time convincing De Jong to give up at least part of the salary arrears and leave the team than convincing United to accept a high premium transfer fee totaling up to €85 million (De Jong's market valuation of €60 million). Although there are favorable factors for the former Ajax Enshi Tenghahe, it is not a small number after all. De Jong has never said that he is willing to join Manchester United, which means that in addition to his reluctance to commit to the European League in the new season, he and Barca have not yet solved the problem of salary arrears.
So for Manchester United and Tenhach, the introduction of Frenki De Jong is only the first step, and there are many more steps to get De Jong into the Carrington training base.