Frenkie de Jong on failed Man Utd move: 'I always wanted to stay'

Barcelona and Netherlands star Frenkie de Jong (25) has revealed he was never close to a move away to Manchester United in the summer, despite his future at Barcelona being tested to the limits at the time.

The Dutchman, 25, was at odds with Barca in the summer, who reportedly owed him over £17m in unpaid wages.

Such was the situation, rumours quickly began swirling over a £71.5million Man Utd bid being accepted by the Spanish giants, who allegedly had given de Jong an ultimatum to either take a pay cut or leave the Catalan club.

But de Jong - speaking ahead of his side's trip to Poland in their Nations League clash on Thursday - was adamant that those reports were some way off the mark, with the player and club ultimately coming to a positive agreement.

"I always wanted to stay at Barcelona and this is why I always remained calm in the summer."

He added: "I can't give too many details away [on why things changed with Barcelona].

"But look, the club has its own ideas and I have my own ideas too, and sometimes this clashes.

"But at the end of the day, things went OK."

The former Ajax ace has played eight times for Barcelona so far this season under club legend Xavi, notching up one league goal to his name.