Frenkie de Jong | The last muppeting lap

Frenkie to United?


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I've always believed it's about money, but as time has dragged on I've become less convinced. Especially after Graeme Hunter who's the La Liga don of reporters laughed off any suggestion that Barca were refusing to pay him. He said Barca were happy to pay him but in installments. I wouldn't see why FDJ would have a big objection to being paid in installments.

It just leads me to think it really is down to lifestyle and family. If I was his wife, I sure as shit would be giving him some serious grief right now if he was considering swapping Barca for Man Utd.

I've been raised pretty much all my life in Manchester. Been a Utd fan all my life. But if I was a professional footballer, I'm not sure I could turn down playing and living in Barca!
Maybe he learned his lesson when they told him “take a pay cut lad, we’ll pay it all back in a few years - honest! We can even draw up a new contract if you want, make it all official like!”
Once burned, twice shy - cough up muthafeckers. Can’t say I blame him.
 
I've always believed it's about money, but as time has dragged on I've become less convinced. Especially after Graeme Hunter who's the La Liga don of reporters laughed off any suggestion that Barca were refusing to pay him. He said Barca were happy to pay him but in installments. I wouldn't see why FDJ would have a big objection to being paid in installments.

It just leads me to think it really is down to lifestyle and family. If I was his wife, I sure as shit would be giving him some serious grief right now if he was considering swapping Barca for Man Utd.

I've been raised pretty much all my life in Manchester. Been a Utd fan all my life. But if I was a professional footballer, I'm not sure I could turn down playing and living in Barca!
Did Hunter specify the amount they were willing to pay off? That’s the crucial part.
From all accounts, Barcelona and FDJ seems to have very different view on how much he’s being owed.
 
what does the player achieve though by taking a massive pay cut? Apart from losing dignity, becoming a mockery of himself and tens of millions of euros?

Sell it to me.
If he takes a pay cut, yes he earns considerably less and less than what Utd are offering.

But the point which I mentioned, the lifestyle and family happiness would be what he gains. I'm not sure he's been mocked and degraded as much as we've bantered about. In public, Barca haven't really ridiculed him. In fact they've made many statements regarding the possibility of him staying and that they do like him but he needs to reduce his wages.

In fact, I'd argue Dembele was ridiculed more than FDJ during last season and ended up signing a new contract.
 
But wouldn't you make career decisions based on discussions with your family?
In a top flight football?
If there are various opportunities which are more or less equally attractive from a footballing perspective, then perhaps, but if there is a choice between being a bullied bench warmer (at best) here or a cornerstone of a team elsewhere, there is nothing to discuss even.
 
Did Hunter specify the amount they were willing to pay off? That’s the crucial part.
From all accounts, Barcelona and FDJ seems to have very different view on how much he’s being owed.
The interview was posted on here somewhere. He said there was no issue at all with Barca paying him what he's owed. He was actually quite annoyed at the suggestion it was the wages that was holding the deal up. He even ridiculed the reporters who suggested it was that by saying they didn't have a clue.

Have a listen from 8:00...He basically says Barca need to reduce their wage bill massively and/or get a big transfer fee in. He denies any rumours of barca refusing to pay FDJ what he's owed.

 
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How does he “gain” something he already has without taking a pay cut?

Sell it to me I said.
That's just being obtuse. If he leaves Barca for Utd, he loses what he had in Barca and doesn't gain it in Manchester. He has a net loss on his lifestyle. I'm sure most here would happily swap Barca for Utd even if it meant being a bench warmer. And likewise most would be reluctant to come the other way.

You might not be "sold" on it, but others would.
 
That's just being obtuse. If he leaves Barca for Utd, he loses what he had in Barca and doesn't gain it in Manchester. He has a net loss on his lifestyle. I'm sure most here would happily swap Barca for Utd even if it meant being a bench warmer. And likewise most would be reluctant to come the other way.

You might not be "sold" on it, but others would.

you are making a different argument here, I asked what he gains by taking a paycut?
 
The interview was posted on here somewhere. He said there was no issue at all with Barca paying him what he's owed. He was actually quite annoyed at the suggestion it was the wages that was holding the deal up. He even ridiculed the reporters who suggested it was that by saying they didn't have a clue.

Have a listen from 9:10...He basically says Barca need to reduce their wage bill massively and/or get a big transfer fee in. He denies any rumours of barca refusing to pay FDJ what he's owed.


He's just being a Barca mouthpiece and blaming it solely on the agent.

In one breath he says it's nonsense they won't pay him what he's owed and then in the next breath it's they will propose to pay some of what he was owed and then later saying it would be structured in installments. I doubt he has any clue what Barca and the agents have proposed on the deferred salary issue. The fact they are demanding he reduces his salary to say, tells you they have no interest in paying him what he's currently on, so they're clearly negotiating that down.
 
you are making a different argument here, I asked what he gains by taking a paycut?
Of course he can stand his ground and remain on his current contract. It obviously won't be a pleasant environment for him to be in if he's going into the new season where he's basically stopped Barca registering all their new signings. I'm sure the club management and some players won't be happy with it.

Or he could choose to take a pay cut and remain on good terms with the club and have a higher chance of getting minutes than being a perceived rebel and standing his ground. It all comes down to what circumstances he chooses to work in. But my original point still stands in that I don't believe it's Barca refusing to pay him which is causing the reluctance to move.
 
It obviously won't be a pleasant environment for him to be in if he's going into the new season where he's basically stopped Barca registering all their new signings.

what? How the feck is that his problem?

If your boss asked you to pay a 50% paycut so he could employ 5 new blokes, would you feel like you should to make the work environment more pleasant.

Frenkie is “stopping” nothing, the club don’t have to go spending his wages on 150 m of new signings and over a million a week of new wages.

So what does he gain?
 
I've always believed it's about money, but as time has dragged on I've become less convinced. Especially after Graeme Hunter who's the La Liga don of reporters laughed off any suggestion that Barca were refusing to pay him. He said Barca were happy to pay him but in installments. I wouldn't see why FDJ would have a big objection to being paid in installments.

It just leads me to think it really is down to lifestyle and family. If I was his wife, I sure as shit would be giving him some serious grief right now if he was considering swapping Barca for Man Utd.

I've been raised pretty much all my life in Manchester. Been a Utd fan all my life. But if I was a professional footballer, I'm not sure I could turn down playing and living in Barca!

So at 25 you’d be happy to take a huge pay cut and stay at a club that does not want you and sit in the bench during a World Cup season? All to stay in sunny Spain?

Interesting. I guess that’s the difference with some people/footballers though. All about the lifestyle and not the career.

Its fair enough and each to their own. To be honest if that genuinely is what FDJ wants then he can stay clear of United for me. Not the right attitude. I want young, hungry and committed players. Not ones that are happy to sit on the bench, be shit on by their club AND reduce their salary all for a bit of sun.
 
Of course he can stand his ground and remain on his current contract. It obviously won't be a pleasant environment for him to be in if he's going into the new season where he's basically stopped Barca registering all their new signings. I'm sure the club management and some players won't be happy with it.

Or he could choose to take a pay cut and remain on good terms with the club and have a higher chance of getting minutes than being a perceived rebel and standing his ground. It all comes down to what circumstances he chooses to work in. But my original point still stands in that I don't believe it's Barca refusing to pay him which is causing the reluctance to move.
So why do you think Utd and Ten Hag are still pursuing the deal?
 
If he had taken a paycut while playing at United, we would have lauded him for his commitment to the club. But since he is doing it at Barca, we are saying he has no ambition.

The truth is Barca have shown more ambition in the market this window, and are actually in the Champions League. As any top player would, he backs himself to get back in the 11.Most players would prefer that, than playing at United, who have not won any trophies in the last 4 years, and have a very spotty record at getting CL places. I totally get why he would prefer to stay at Barca, rather than "give up" and move to Utd.

We were not able to wrap other deals early in the window, because apparently we needed to know De Jong's price first, according to posters here. If that is so, that strategy has failed spectacularly, as most people here predicted. Now the season is gonna start in a week, we are no closer to De Jong, and other clubs are less willing to sell players(like Antony). Most other viable targets have already moved, we have not strengthened in areas we desperately needed(RB, RW, CF, DM), while Don Murtough is sitting with his dick in his hands. Shambles.
 
. But my original point still stands in that I don't believe it's Barca refusing to pay him which is causing the reluctance to move.

Hunter admitted himself that instalments and how it’s paid is the big issue, so why are you ignoring that?

Barca have just taken in 500m, and are spending left right and centre, and their financial position is precarious to say the least. With the money they would then be receiving from my sale I’d be wanting the majority of that 17-20mil or top else I’d be worried I’d never see it from these feckers.
 
If he had taken a paycut while playing at United, we would have lauded him for his commitment to the club. But since he is doing it at Barca, we are saying he has no ambition..

He’s being benched, told he’s liked at CB and they are spending about a million a week on new wages for new players, all the while whilst they’ve spent 150m on new players.

feck yeah that’s lack of ambition if he accepts it, he’d be making an absolute fool of himself.
 
Martinez number 6, usually wears 21, Eriksen number 14 usually wears 21. 21 still available...
 
He’s being benched, told he’s liked at CB and they are spending about a million a week on new wages for new players, all the while whilst they’ve spent 150m on new players.

feck yeah that’s lack of ambition if he accepts it, he’d be making an absolute fool of himself.
Meanwhile the club is in negotiations for another starting CB.
 
If he had taken a paycut while playing at United, we would have lauded him for his commitment to the club. But since he is doing it at Barca, we are saying he has no ambition.

The truth is Barca have shown more ambition in the market this window, and are actually in the Champions League. As any top player would, he backs himself to get back in the 11.Most players would prefer that, than playing at United, who have not won any trophies in the last 4 years, and have a very spotty record at getting CL places. I totally get why he would prefer to stay at Barca, rather than "give up" and move to Utd.

We were not able to wrap other deals early in the window, because apparently we needed to know De Jong's price first, according to posters here. If that is so, that strategy has failed spectacularly, as most people here predicted. Now the season is gonna start in a week, we are no closer to De Jong, and other clubs are less willing to sell players(like Antony). Most other viable targets have already moved, we have not strengthened in areas we desperately needed(RB, RW, CF, DM), while Don Murtough is sitting with his dick in his hands. Shambles.

Its not just a pay cut though is it? It’s a pay cut, being publicly embarrassed by the club and forced out of your position on to the bench. All whilst the club buys new players and splashes money they don’t have.

Think about it. just a bit.
 
He’s being benched, told he’s liked at CB and their are spending about a million a week on new wages for new players, all the while whilst they’ve spent 150m on new players.

Them cutting his wages have more do with FFP/player registration rather than them being skint right? And he has played at CB under Ten Hag too, if memory serves correct. Its a squad game and a long season, he is a top player and will back himself to win his place back.
 
The interview was posted on here somewhere. He said there was no issue at all with Barca paying him what he's owed. He was actually quite annoyed at the suggestion it was the wages that was holding the deal up. He even ridiculed the reporters who suggested it was that by saying they didn't have a clue.

Have a listen from 8:00...He basically says Barca need to reduce their wage bill massively and/or get a big transfer fee in. He denies any rumours of barca refusing to pay FDJ what he's owed.


So according to Hunter, Barcelona is willing to pay De Jong the 17M owed, but not upfront. If true, he really wants to stay. I understand the principle of wanting your money upfront from a club who asked you to take a paycut and now wants to ship you out, but it seems like the ball is in the court of him and his agent.
 
If he had taken a paycut while playing at United, we would have lauded him for his commitment to the club. But since he is doing it at Barca, we are saying he has no ambition.

The truth is Barca have shown more ambition in the market this window, and are actually in the Champions League. As any top player would, he backs himself to get back in the 11.Most players would prefer that, than playing at United, who have not won any trophies in the last 4 years, and have a very spotty record at getting CL places. I totally get why he would prefer to stay at Barca, rather than "give up" and move to Utd.

We were not able to wrap other deals early in the window, because apparently we needed to know De Jong's price first, according to posters here. If that is so, we have failed spectacularly. Now the window is closing, we are no closer to De Jong, other clubs are less willing to sell players(like Antony), most other viable targets have already moved, we have not strengthened in areas we desperately needed(RB, RW, CF, DM), while Don Mortough is sitting with his dick in his hands. Shambles.

Everything I have highlighted is not true...

You're just creating random scenarios as truth and for what reason - to make our club look bad? What is wrong with you that you want your club to be so awful?

Another example of someone who is reading every tweet from literally any source and taking it as gospel.
 
The interview was posted on here somewhere. He said there was no issue at all with Barca paying him what he's owed. He was actually quite annoyed at the suggestion it was the wages that was holding the deal up. He even ridiculed the reporters who suggested it was that by saying they didn't have a clue.

Have a listen from 8:00...He basically says Barca need to reduce their wage bill massively and/or get a big transfer fee in. He denies any rumours of barca refusing to pay FDJ what he's owed.


Aka he’s being Barcelona’s mouthpiece to paint FDJ as a greedy grub like most of the journalists covering La Liga.

Like I said, Barcelona and FDJ clearly has a very different interpretation of how much money is being owned. Just saying that Barcelona is willing to pay means feck all when in reality the difference in numbers could be over 10m.

Your scenario makes no sense at all when FDJ is supposedly agreeable in giving up 17m to stay at Barcelona but somehow he’s not agreeable to accept a pay cut to stay when that’s literally where the 17m is going to come from.
 
So according to Hunter, Barcelona is willing to pay De Jong the 17M owed, but not upfront. If true, he really wants to stay.

Or maybe, considering their financial position, how the player likely already feels cheated, how they’ve taken in 500m and are spending like a kid in a sweet shop, and are going to receive 80m + for the transfer; the player and agent are saying “feck you, we want it directly from the transfer fee, in one lump sum”.
 
Aka he’s being Barcelona’s mouthpiece to paint FDJ as a greedy grub like most of the journalists covering La Liga.

Like I said, Barcelona and FDJ clearly has a very different interpretation of how much money is being owned. Just saying that Barcelona is willing to pay means feck all when in reality the difference in numbers could be over 10m.

Your scenario makes no sense at all when FDJ is supposedly agreeable in giving up 17m to stay at Barcelona but somehow he’s not agreeable to accept a pay cut to stay when that’s literally where the 17m is going to come from.

It's so simple, and totally indicative of Barca's shot-termism when it comes to planning/what we're still seeing today.

They saved money on getting FDJ and others to defer their wages. When the time comes to pay-up based on Barca's own timeline, they don't want to. And it's not a case of they can't pay - they've already brought in loads of shiny new expensive toys - they simply won't. They are treating players disgracefully and there's a big part of me that hopes FDJ just sticks it out and completely screws their season. It's entirely of their own creation.
 
One scenario which I've not seen mentioned in the 43,000 posts yet (if it has, feck it I'm gonna say it anyway) is this:

- Barca may well have already offered FDJ the £17m deferred wages if he accepts to leave
- Despite this, FDJ may well have still refused to leave
- We can't underestimate the factor and influence lifestyle and family will play in a players decision. For some players its more important than others. He and in particular, his wife may love the life in Barca in that FDJ would be willing to put that as a higher priority than his footballing career.
- For his wife, it's either a beautiful place to live with great lifestyle in Barca, to coming to Manchester which isn't even a comparison. Especially with the grim weather. The footballing side doesn't affect his wife, only FDJ.
- This scenario would tie in with what Graeme Hunter said on Talksport in that the rumour Barca don't want to pay what he's owed is complete nonsense. He said Barca are happy to pay it.
- As this prolongs further, I'm of the opinion that he's been offered the money he's owed and he's refused and insisted he still wants to stay regardless of limited playing time. So that leads on to his contract if he stays. Barca obviously want him to reduce his wages and he's probably insisting he's doing nothing wrong by sticking to his original contract which he's completely entitled to. He's probably thinking if I'm going to stay and sacrifice a chunk of my footballing career, I'm going to at least take some big money home.
- Ultimately, I think he may end up staying and accepting a reduced contract near the end of the window.

If this was the case, why hasn't he already come out and said I'll take the pay cut 50m and stay thanks. If its just a matter of how much of a paycut he takes and its not about the money why not just tell United he is not leaving at all, and that he will be negotiating with Barca? It doesn't weaken his hand in any way, he already has a contract with Barca that earns him the full money as a fall back. If they don't make him a reasonable offer to cut his wages by more than half over the 5 year contract then he can just say I am staying as is.

But wouldn't you make career decisions based on discussions with your family? I know his playing time would be pretty limited this season, but his opportunity may come next season when Busquets leaves and they don't really have anyone else for that position. I know my decision on a career choice would definitely be heavily influence by my familys thoughts.

FDJ may just be thinking he'll ride his time out this season and see whether he gets back in once Busquets has gone.

So he might ride out this year with little/no game time this year, during the WC, take a risk that next year when Busquets leaves he takes that position (despite him not being a DM like Biscuits), with Nico a much better option for that position, and he can then fight it out with Pedri, Gavi (who is a year older), Kessie, and any new midfielders they dare to buy?
 
You're just creating random scenarios as truth and for what reason - to make our club look bad? What is wrong with you that you want your club to be so awful?

Dont take it personal bud, its not your fault our club is run by incompetent people. You can either accept the situation as it is, or keep your head in the sand. I have not been following the De Jong saga for the last few days, because its been increasingly apparent that its not gonna work.

There is no random scenario being created. The truth is the season is about to start, we have not strengthened in key areas, and have wasted most of the window after a player we will probably not get. I still think we will have a good season ahead, but Murtough and co have made things a lot harder for ETH.
 
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