Former Manchester United player Dimitar Berbatov has expressed concerns about the potential signing of Frenkie de Jong, a player the club has long pursued.
Berbatov believes that bringing de Jong to United could result in a negative atmosphere within the team. It is widely known that United’s interest in the Dutch midfielder was a major storyline during the previous transfer window.
However, the 26-year-old ultimately decided to remain with his current club and went on to achieve success by winning the La Liga title under the management of Xavi.
The Red Devils have been again linked with a move for De Jong and in recent weeks the rumours have intensified. However, Berbatov believes that United have a talented pool of midfielders and that signing De Jong would create a rift in the dressing room.
As reported by the Sun, he said:
“I like the way he plays the game, reads the game, but where would he play if he came to Manchester United? At this moment, you have a midfield that includes the likes of Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Christian Eriksen and a number of others.”
“So you have to be careful when it comes to buying players in an area you’re already strong in and make sure you’re not just buying for the sake of buying, even if it’s a big-name player.”
“If Manchester United were to move for De Jong, then they need to figure out how they can keep all those midfielders happy. Unhappy players can bring conflict into the team and that’s something that no manager wants.”
The Barcelona maestro has been a key player for Xavi. He has played more frequently this season as the Blaugrana raised the La Liga title this week.
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As of now, De Jong has no intention to leave the club and he wants to stay in Spain for years to come. Meanwhile, it would be a wise choice for United to let go of the midfielder and target other quality players in the market.
The Red Devils signed Marcel Sabitzer on loan as a backup for Casemiro. However, the Bayern Munich loanee has been sidelined for the remainder of the season due to an injury.
It is unlikely that the club will sign him permanently this summer. However, United will aim to sign a central midfielder this summer in order to form a competitive squad next season.
