Frenkie de Jong | The last muppeting lap

[Shakesy]

I'm over this transfer

I am feeling pretty ambivalent about it currently.

Still think it happens but god is it getting boring.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

That's because De Jong himself wants his contract paid up before entering negotiations with anyone else, nothing to do with Barcelona. They've agreed the sale, they want him gone.

Well they are saying no to the 17m severance so they absolutely are 50% of the problem.

Until the pair of them can agree on that, he aint "available", hence what ETH was hinting at.

 

[Berbaclass]

You all bite fast

 

[UnofficialDevil]

That FDJ's team won't allow it until a severance deal with Barca is agreed. Judging by how this transfer is going, and the multiple reports of it being impossible for FCB to get a meeting with FDJ's agent, they are playing hardball "17m or no meeting, no transfer."

That doesn't stop Barca from accepting the bid letting is officially talk to the player make him an offer, he could then say I'm not signing a United contract until I get what I'm owed, at least it would all be out in the open, official, and we would be getting somewhere instead of just waiting and rumours?

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

You all bite fast

I think that alone should be the removal of your tag line

 

[Brownie85]

You all bite fast

Don't be scaring us master... this thread falls apart if you ring that bell!!

 

[Red Shorts]

I'm over this transfer

I am feeling pretty ambivalent about it currently.

Still think it happens but god is it getting boring.

Remove title now!

 

[Shakesy]

You all bite fast

Berbaclass made a joke

 

[hellhunter]

I think that alone should be the removal of your tag line

'False Prophet' or something like this

 

[Chief123]

You all bite fast

I like what you did there. Provoked a surge of posts to get us to 1000 tonight. Niceeee

 

[Cypriot]

That doesn't stop Barca from accepting the bid letting is officially talk to the player make him an offer, he could then say I'm not signing a United contract until I get what I'm owed, at least it would all be out in the open official, and we would be getting somewhere instead of just waiting?

Thats a risk for him, and for what? To appease United fans?

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

That doesn't stop Barca from accepting the bid letting is officially talk to the player make him an offer, he could then say I'm not signing a United contract until I get what I'm owed, at least it would all be out in the open official, and we would be getting somewhere instead of just waiting?

Hardline is hardline.

"We're not discussing any transfer until a severance package agreement with the entire 17m is at our offices".

Barca's hardline is "not happening".

Hence... not available.

 

[Tarrou]

Shows him that his worth isn't that of a 300k /week midfielder. He's gonna be an important player, an option.

I don't think they really give a shit about his position, I think he's a brilliant footballer they would like to have in the squad mind, but only if he's being paid "cheaply".

I think that’s a bit far fetched

you don’t make a controlling midfielder feel important by telling them they’re an option in defence.. controllers want to control, they want to dictate

it’s a big feck you

 

[Plant0x84]

I'm over this transfer

I am feeling pretty ambivalent about it currently.

Still think it happens but god is it getting boring.

Account hacked?

No Berba we need you

Eh what...
You're head master muppet? You can't be saying stuff like this!!

Shockwaves!!

 

[Berbaclass]

Come on guys you know I'm rock solid on this. Have been from day one

The show goes on.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

I think that’s a bit far fetched

you don’t make a controlling midfielder feel important by telling them they’re an option in defence.. controllers want to control, they want to dictate

it’s a big feck you

I don't think they care about him feeling important.

 

[DavelinaJolie]

Xavi had a talk with De Jong and told him that he has to agree to a salary reduction if he wants to continue at Barca. They both left happy, so it looks like De Jong is willing to do something.

If true, which I don't believe it is, then it just reads like another "you need to go" message.

Barca and all their representatives can tell him if he wants to stay he needs to take a pay cut, but if he chooses not to leave he has a contract and they have to honour it.

 

[Chief123]

Come on guys you know I'm rock solid on this. Have been from day one

The show goes on.

Blimey, that’s a long time to be unzipped.

 

[Berbaclass]

Blimey, that’s a long time to be unzipped.

I'm very committed

 

[calodo2003]

You all bite fast

Thread ban.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Blimey, that’s a long time to be unzipped.

Must have a entire shed full of viagra. I reckon he took his last one 4 hours ago, and well, it's Sunday. Hence the post.

 

[UnofficialDevil]

Hardline is hardline.

"We're not discussing any transfer until a severance package agreement with the entire 17m is at our offices".

Barca's hardline is "not happening".

Hence... not available.

I see.

 

[Berbaclass]

Thread ban.

For you? Good idea. Off with his head.

 

[Brownie85]

Hardline is hardline.

"We're not discussing any transfer until a severance package agreement with the entire 17m is at our offices".

Barca's hardline is "not happening".

Hence... not available.

Doesn't mean he's not available, it means they won't pay the entire thing. They want a compromise package.
As you say, ideally they want him to sign a new contract at a cut down weekly wage, but from Frenkies side, thats not happening.

Barca could use that refusal to say, "Well if you don't want to accept our offer of a pay cut, we don't want to accept your demand for a full €17m payment"
From there, they'll likely negotiate and come to an agreement on some kind of package i'd imagine

 

[MF1138]

So wait... People really think Barca want to keep him, to be a fill in cb or third choice for every midfield position, rather than taking the money?

Pull the fecking other one.

 

[::sonny::]

The biggest shock here is that you thought nobody had already posted this.

You’re right

Pardon, but there are tons of messages every min

 

[glazed]

Nar, their best option has always been for him to sign a new deal on his 2021 wage, around €150k /week, thus signing away tens of millions, and coming a long way under their new "salary cap".
That way they get a terrific player for the prime of his career, on a ridiculously low wage and the 17m "wage debt" is instantly written off.

Except that's not an option at the moment? They can ask for it but right now they're not being offered it. Doubt they ever will be.

 

[golden_blunder]

I'm over this transfer

I am feeling pretty ambivalent about it currently.

Still think it happens but god is it getting boring.

Ding ding?

 

[George The Best]

Doesn't mean he's not available, it means they won't pay the entire thing. They want a compromise package.
As you say, ideally they want him to sign a new contract at a cut down weekly wage, but from Frenkies side, thats not happening.

Barca could use that refusal to say, "Well if you don't want to accept our offer of a pay cut, we don't want to accept your demand for a full €17m payment"
From there, they'll likely negotiate and come to an agreement on some kind of package i'd imagine

Maybe, but everything is on Frenkie’s side to stick with the 17m

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

I see.

I always like to think what I would do as an agent here, or in Laporta's position if I wanted to be a cnut and focused only on saving money.

As an agent, I 100% take that hardline. If Barcelona truly cannot afford to keep my client, but can afford to splash the cash on new players I'd advise the following.

• Negotiate his transfer with my clients club of preference, come to us with a severance package containing the full monies "owed" and we'll discuss personal terms with the club. Until then, we are not willing to accept any meeting to negotiate a new contract, nor a lower severance.

As a club I'd do exactly what Barcelona are doing:

• Take him on tour, make him "second choice", play him out of position; attempt to weaken his hardline position. Show him that being so hardline will lead to a WC season of bench splinters and playing out of position.

We really haven't moved on in weeks due to this stalemate. It's still a case of who blinks first.

 

[Tarrou]

I don't think they care about him feeling important.

you said it though?

 

[Brownie85]

I always like to think what I would do as an agent here, or in Laporta's position if I wanted to be a cnut and focused only on saving money.

As an agent, I 100% take that hardline. If Barcelona truly cannot afford to keep my client, but can afford to splash the cash on new players I'd advise the following.

• Negotiate his transfer with my clients club of preference, come to us with a severance package containing the full monies "owed" and we'll discuss personal terms with the club. Until then, we are not willing to accept any meeting to negotiate a new contract, nor a lower severance.

As a club I'd do exactly what Barcelona are doing:

• Take him on tour, make him "second choice", play him out of position; attempt to weaken his hardline position. Show him that being so hardline will lead to a WC season of bench splinters and playing out of position.

But in that situation, It's not Barca that's making him not available, it's Frenkie himself that's making himself not available.

If he's refusing to talk to any other club until his money is paid in full, then he's basically telling Barca "Feck your agreement with United, until you pay me what i'm owed, i won't talk to them, or anyone else for that matter".

 

[Laurencio]

That doesn't stop Barca from accepting the bid letting is officially talk to the player make him an offer, he could then say I'm not signing a United contract until I get what I'm owed, at least it would all be out in the open, official, and we would be getting somewhere instead of just waiting and rumours?

This is what has happened... the only difference is that nothing in the negotiations between us and FdJ, or Barca and FdJ are public. Bid has been accepted, we have been given the green light and we can negotiate a contract at any time. Ten Hag has spoken to him several times reportedly.

What you want to happen isn't likely to ever happen - no one goes to the media and discusses ongoing negotiations like that.

So in conclusion, we have had our bid accepted, we have been in contact with his camp, Ten Hag has spoken to him numerous times, and after all that he still remains our priority target. It would be very odd if he truly wasn't open to coming here with all that in place.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

But in that situation, It's not Barca that's making him not available, it's Frenkie himself that's making himself not available.

It's both.

Barcelona in essence owe him 17m euros, if they simply agreed to pay what is owed, he instantly becomes available.

It's take two to play this game.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

If he's refusing to talk to any other club until his money is paid in full, then he's basically telling Barca "Feck your agreement with United, until you pay me what i'm owed, i won't talk to them, or anyone else for that matter".

Absolutely. And I expect he's told ETH this, that he will 100% keep this stance until Barcelona weaken. So ETH is waiting for the moment in which Barcelona agree and make him "available" to complete his transfer.

Barcelon are waiting for the moment he hopes a new contract makes all these issues go away, or the moment he gets so upset that he tells his agent to accept that meeting to discuss his severance and end the hardline.

 

[Shakesy]

A poll to push us over a thousand tonight? Nice tactic

 

[Brownie85]

It's both.

Barcelona in essence owe him 17m euros, if they simply agreed to pay what is owed, he instantly becomes available.

It's take two to play this game.

I'm pretty sure i read somewhere that United are free to talk to de Jong whenever they want too though.
Until the wage issues are sorted, then theres no point as he's just going to say no. Unless he's fully agreed terms with us, per say, but not "officially". We may have spoken to him, told him our offer, he's said sure i like the sound of that, but until i get this issue with Barca sorted, nothing happens.

 

[UnofficialDevil]

I always like to think what I would do as an agent here, or in Laporta's position if I wanted to be a cnut and focused only on saving money.

As an agent, I 100% take that hardline. If Barcelona truly cannot afford to keep my client, but can afford to splash the cash on new players I'd advise the following.

• Negotiate his transfer with my clients club of preference, come to us with a severance package containing the full monies "owed" and we'll discuss personal terms with the club. Until then, we are not willing to accept any meeting to negotiate a new contract, nor a lower severance.

As a club I'd do exactly what Barcelona are doing:

• Take him on tour, make him "second choice", play him out of position; attempt to weaken his hardline position. Show him that being so hardline will lead to a WC season of bench splinters and playing out of position.

We really haven't moved on in weeks due to this stalemate. It's still a case of who blinks first.

Forgot about that, bloody winter world cup bollocks.
Again, if we play the blinking eye game for too long, some club might come along and offer the extra 17 and sign him. He would still be bought for under 100m which is a bargain if he is the best in the world.

 

[JJ12]

There’s only one club this is embarrassing for. It ain’t ours.

 

[George The Best]

But in that situation, It's not Barca that's making him not available, it's Frenkie himself that's making himself not available.

If he's refusing to talk to any other club until his money is paid in full, then he's basically telling Barca "Feck your agreement with United, until you pay me what i'm owed, i won't talk to them, or anyone else for that matter".

Quite right too. For all we know Barca have tried to set a trap by saying he’s free to talk to us. His agent won’t have any of that though until they commit to the money they have basically stolen from him.