The head coach of Barcelona, Xavi, has admitted that he is unsure if Frenkie de Jong will still be with the team at the end of the transfer window.
The midfielder will cost Manchester United €85 million, but the deal is being delayed because the Dutchman demands €20 million in deferred wages.
Although he has acknowledged that it might not be possible, club president Joan Laporta has consistently stated that he will do everything in his power to keep De Jong at Camp Nou.
And Xavi has acknowledged that there are still concerns about De Jong staying in Catalonia for the upcoming season, though his suggestion to play him as a centre back is not meant to be interpreted as an indication that the club does not have plans for him.
“I don’t know if he’s [De Jong] going to stay here. There’s still time and a lot of things can still happen,” Xavi said following Barcelona’s 2-0 pre-season win at New York Red Bulls.
“At the moment he’s part of the team, like everyone else. The fact that he played as a central defender in the other games was not a sign that he was leaving.
“I don’t need to send signals on the pitch. I can speak directly with my footballers.”
