{"id":1109016,"date":"2019-10-01T16:37:35","date_gmt":"2019-10-01T15:37:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1109016"},"modified":"2019-10-01T16:37:35","modified_gmt":"2019-10-01T15:37:35","slug":"frenkie-de-jong-barcelona-staff-tears","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/frenkie-de-jong-barcelona-staff-tears\/","title":{"rendered":"Frenkie de Jong signing brought Barcelona staff to tears, says agent"},"content":{"rendered":"

The agent of Frenkie de Jong has disclosed how Barcelona staff sobbed with relief when his client snubbed interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs to join the Spanish giants.<\/strong><\/p>\n

De Jong, 22, completed a \u00a365m move from Ajax in January before relocating to Catalonia in the summer, where he has gone on to make eight appearances so far.<\/p>\n

De Jong to Bar\u00e7a: Five things to know…<\/strong><\/h2>\n
    \n
  • De Jong played a key role in Ajax’s progress to the Champions League semi-final last season.<\/li>\n
  • His form both in Europe and domestically prompted Bar\u00e7a to splurge \u00a365m for his signature.<\/li>\n
  • Prior to signing for Bar\u00e7a, most of Europe’s top clubs were reportedly in the mix for his services.<\/li>\n
  • He has started all but one of Bar\u00e7a’s opening seven La Liga games so far, with the club struggling in the league early doors.<\/li>\n
  • De Jong’s agent has revealed how Bar\u00e7a staff wept when the midfielder penned terms with the club.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    https:\/\/audioboom.com\/posts\/7383312-alisson-is-the-golden-middle-of-the-goalkeeper-venn-diagram<\/p>\n

    Prior to sealing his switch to the Camp Nou, the midfield maestro was highly sought-after across the continent, with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City tipped with a move for his signature.<\/p>\n

    However, it would be the\u00a0Blaugrana who won the race for his services, and agent\u00a0Hasan Cetinkaya has now explained how the Bar\u00e7a staff were so overjoyed when De Jong signed the dotted line that they couldn’t contain their emotions.<\/p>\n

    “It became a tug-of-war, where PSG, Manchester City and Juventus did almost everything to get Frenkie,” Cetinkaya told Aftonbladet<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Three Dutch players have won UEFA Champions League Midfielder of the Season:<\/p>\n

    ?? Clarence Seedorf (2006-07)
    ?? Wesley Sneijder (2009-10)
    ?? Frenkie de Jong (2018-19)<\/p>\n

    Elite company. ? pic.twitter.com\/WmPwB8qsPK<\/a><\/p>\n

    — Squawka (@Squawka) August 29, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n