Football News: Frenkie de Jong deals a big blow to Manchester United

To get the midfielder this summer, Manchester United and Barcelona agreed to an initial cost of £56.2 million.

According to reports, the player has already emptied his locker at Barcelona in anticipation of a move to Old Trafford.

The midfielder was trained by the new Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag at Ajax, and the two had a phone conversation to persuade the player to join his team at Old Trafford.

Frenkie de De Jong was told he would play a similar role to the one he loved in Amsterdam: "director of the orchestra" and indisputable starter under Ten Hag.

Although the negotiations have dragged on for months, the player has suddenly decided against the transfer after his former manager Ronald Koeman stated that Frenkie de Jong had no plans to leave Barcelona.

According to a source in Diario Sport, the Dutchman is getting ready to return to Barcelona to train for the upcoming season and has little interest in joining Manchester United.

Frenkie de Jong claimed to be confused by the commotion surrounding the potential move because he had no intention of signing the contract.

The first of the Dutchman's ten reasons is that he recently purchased a home in Barcelona's Pedralbes neighbourhood and that his future bride, Mikky Kiemeney, is content in the Catalan metropolis.

Since moving to Barcelona in 2019, they have made their complete home there and have no intention of leaving.

Frenkie de Jong's childhood desire was to play for Barcelona, not Manchester United or any other English team.

Additionally, Manchester United isn't even playing in the Champions League this year, so the player sees joining the team as a step backwards and a loss of reputation.

The player also thinks that Manchester United is a "jinxed" team because of Sir Alex Ferguson and has spent vast sums of money without being able to compete seriously at the top level of football.

Since their last victory in 2013, Manchester United has not taken home a trophy and has not even competed for the Premier League title.

Erik Ten Hag has already set his eyes elsewhere.

After Frenkie de Jong ruled out a move to Old Trafford, Erik ten Hag is reportedly pressuring the Manchester United leadership to step up their efforts to negotiate a double deal with Ajax for Lisandro Martinez and Antony.

Erik Ten Hag is trying to change a team that finished sixth in the Premier League last season. Still, on Saturday, it became clear that De Jong has "absolutely ruled out" moving to England, dealing a big blow to the Dutchman.

Before Barcelona rushed in to get him back in 2019, De Jong was one of Ten Hag's most crucial Ajax players. The new Manchester United manager had ranked De Jong as his top summer transfer target.

However, a current source has stated that Ten Hag has wasted no time in pressing the Manchester United management to boost the ante in their attempt to pry both Antony and Martinez away from Ajax instead. With De Jong now appearing to be out of reach.

Both were integral members of the Ajax team that won the Eredivisie championship last season under Ten Hag, and both are eager to work with him again in the Premier League.

Martinez, who Arsenal is also courting, has already received an upgraded offer from Manchester United of €50 million (£42.3 million).

Nevertheless, Manchester United's €60 million (£50.8 million) offer for Antony, who registered 12 goals and ten assists across all competitions last season, falls €20 million (£16.9 million) shy of Ajax's asking price.

The Dutch powerhouses stand by their position and would instead find replacements for both players before approving any trade.

Erik Ten Hag is attempting to outbid Ajax for Brian Brobbey in addition to negotiating a double deal with them for Antony and Martinez.

The 21-year-old striker, developed at Ajax by Ten Hag, was prepared for a long-term reunion with the Dutch champions.

As a result of Cristiano Ronaldo's admission that he intends to leave the team this summer to join a team that can offer him Champions League play, Manchester United is now looking to sabotage a deal for Brobbey.