Erik ten Hag opens up on Man Utd failed bid to sign Barcelona star Frenkie De Jong

Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag has revealed how the Premier League team failed to sign Frenkie De Jong from Barcelona in 2022.

Erik ten Hag worked alongside Frenkie De Jong in Ajax with the pair winning the Eredivisie title and reaching the Champions League semi-finals together.

Frenkie De Jong eventually left the Holland club to join Barcelona before Manchester United decided to appoint Erik ten Hag as their new manager.

Though United tried to sign De Jong before the arrival of Erik ten Hag, the Premier League team bid was turned down by Barcelona when Erik ten Hag arrived.

Ten Hag has now revealed how he planned to utilize De Jong in his team if the deal had gone through.

Speaking with Gary Neville in an interview with Sky Sports Ten Hag said: “It would have been Frenkie de Jong and Casemiro [in midfield]. They would really be connected with each other. They would be really complementary to each other. That’s a typical player, if you want to play the Ajax style, you need that type of player.”

Frenkie De Jong has gone on to become an important player in Barcelona while Erik ten Hag’s job is at stake at Manchester United.