Frenkie de Jong | The last muppeting lap

[NZT-One]

No its not. Maybe for Barca or those who get embarrassed at very little. But not for United or Frenkie

Embarrassing might be a strong word, but a club of our size with a challenge for a new manager at hand like ours who is sitting all passive on the biggest chunk of the summer budget waiting for something to happen clearly isn't a sign for a decisive leadership. If the player is as needed as he is touted to be, contact him directly, get over the supposedly 17 million hindrance by upping our offer or offer a wage package or bonuses or whatever.

We can look down on Barcelona all we want - we are the ones who are in need of players. And we are the ones whos business is blocked by this shit. Being moral winners in this saga is worth feck all.

 

[No Love]

Do we really need another centre half?

 

[golden_blunder]

Embarrassing might be a strong word, but a club of our size with a challenge for a new manager at hand like ours who is sitting all passive on the biggest chunk of the summer budget waiting for something to happen clearly isn't a sign for a decisive leadership. If the player is as needed as he is touted to be, contact him directly, get over the supposedly 17 million hindrance by upping our offer or offer a wage package or bonuses or whatever.

We can look down on Barcelona all we want - we are the ones who are in need of players. And we are the ones whos business is blocked by this shit. Being moral winners in this sage is worth feck all.

Short sighted approach. We then set a rod for our own backs for future negotiations for other players. We are doing the right thing, it’s up to Barca to resolve this. Morally and otherwise.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Of course, they're a badly run club. There was a report saying he'll be their highest earner with Lewandowski this season if he stays. I can't imagine that (and missing out on a huge transfer fee) is something they can ignore entirely.

Alba, Pique and Busquests all on silly money.

The new players all getting handsomely paid. They aren't ignoring anything, they are showing FDJ his future, treating him like shit and the idea he's just gonna stay and hope they are bluffing and that they will suddenly start playing him ahead of Busquests, Kesse and co. sound like absolute pie in the sky to me. Barca are turning the screw, and making his position pretty untenable.

 

[golden_blunder]

Do we really need another centre half?

Do you think he’s a centre half?

 

[Marcus]

I feel really sorry for him. This Barca sleaze fest should be a warning to other players.

 

[UnofficialDevil]

So they haven't accepted an offer for him from us after all.. there was no deal in place..

 

[Red Shorts]

I had thought so! Kudos

 

[Trequarista10]

Blame Frenkie’s legal counsel, it was his side who should’ve had the nous to see this

Well he has a contract so he can run it down and get paid what he's owed if Barca don't pay up. FDJ has the power in that sense. Barca have to sell him, FDJ doesn't have to move.

Barca are essentially trying to sell a £1m property that has a £300k mortgage, but are asking buyers to pay them £1m for the property and to pay the lender £300k to clear their debt. Or requesting the lender just agrees the wipe the mortgage "we would have paid you but we're selling the property so we don't have to pay off the debt, right?"

 

[No Love]

Do you think he’s a centre half?

Of course not, I’m poking fun at Xavi’s comments.

 

[golden_blunder]

So they haven't accepted an offer for him from us after all.. there was no deal in place..

Red bid or blue bid?

 

[Wicked_Badger]

Why do people do this? Why would we imagine he’s anything other than immense?

The sooner he flops, the sooner the muppets can move on to their next saga?

 

[CM]

It sounds like he isn't owed any money legally but if barca want him gone they will need to come to some sort of compromise

They are deferred payments so it's money that he's entitled to, and will get, if he's determined enough to get it.

I agree there will likely need to be a compromise. But Barcelona's position is quite clear - they're trying to feck him over, and that will include any settlement they offer him.

Alba, Pique and Busquests all on silly money.

The new players all getting handsomely paid. They aren't ignoring anything, they are showing FDJ his future, treating him like shit and the idea he's just gonna stay and hope they are bluffing and that they will suddenly start playing him ahead of Busquests, Kesse and co. sound like absolute pie in the sky to me. Barca are turning the screw, and making his position pretty untenable.

I'm not saying he will be a key player, I'm speaking from a perspective of not playing him whatsoever. If they decide to do that, good luck to them.

We've seen Bale decide to sit his contract out at Real Madrid in similar circumstances though. If the player is determined enough to get his money, that can get very messy and will lose Barcelona more money in the long run.

 

[TMDaines]

Embarrassing might be a strong word, but a club of our size with a challenge for a new manager at hand like ours who is sitting all passive on the biggest chunk of the summer budget waiting for something to happen clearly isn't a sign for a decisive leadership. If the player is as needed as he is touted to be, contact him directly, get over the supposedly 17 million hindrance by upping our offer or offer a wage package or bonuses or whatever.

That would be a terrible precedent for United to make. All of a sudden Antony’s agent, Pavard’s agent, and whomever else we target this or next summer would want a massive signing fee: “You paid Frenkie de Jong how much?”

You can buy another good solid player, or pay a 5-year-contract of such a player, for that money.

 

[golden_blunder]

The sooner he flops, the sooner the muppets can move on to their next saga?

Next summer will be a goal keeper saga I feel

 

[Chief123]

There, right there!

He like any footballer, has been paid to date. Ergo, he's "owed" nothing legally.

If he stays, he'll be paid as per his contract. Of course, morally, if he leaves now he won't get the money from year 1 and 2 that he agreed to instead receive in years 3-6, unless he and Barca come to an agreement. That's the issue here, and not an easy one settled in court.

As Danny Murphy confirmed, often a footballer leaving a club, say himself from Liverpool to Charlton, where the player is likely to get a lower wage, the current club and player agree on a severance package.
It looks like FDJ and Barca are absolutely miles apart in agreeing what that package should be. Hence, "you're a back up centre half you knob, now take what we are offering and feck off".

The last line says he’s due to be owed that 16m over the 4 years of his renewed contract. So he is owed money?

 

[pocco]

Kounde and FdJ at CB will be good for them. Like when they converted Mascherano, just with more ball playing ability. Obviously building a team to dominate possession.

 

[Brownie85]

Eventually a champions league team will come in and he’ll be happy to move which in my opinion is a silly attitude to take considering he played his best under ETH and we should be out of CL for one season.

If reports are true and he really doesn’t like or want to come to United it leaves a bad taste in my mouth and I don’t like the idea of forcing a player who will be unhappy to join.

In all seriousness I think he does leave Barca but I think he ends up at either PSG or Chelsea and most likely just becomes another name in their squads like he is at Barca. At United we’d build around him.

I think he’s being poorly advised and he is a little bit blinded by Barca and his love for them and doesn’t really consider any other clubs beyond their “on the face of it” opportunities.

He’s coming across a little silly.

Why does everyone think he'll end up at Chelsea when they're already stacked in his position and he'll struggle to get playing time i'd say!
The reports were all over the place when they came out weeks ago... lets see how they went (to the best of my recollection)

Sport were saying:
"Meeting between Chelsea and Barca, de Jong discussed, Chelsea very interested and will bid soon"
"de Jong wasn't mentioned in the meeting, but they are very interested and bid will go in soon"
"de Jong prefers Chelsea and will do everything to make sure the move to Chelsea happens"
"de Jong does NOT want to go to Chelsea and if he does move, United are his priority"
"de Jong does NOT want to go to United under any circumstances, and he wants to stay at Barca"

All this was said in about 24/48 hours. Flip flopping much? Then you have Relevo who are apparently super reliable (well some journos) and they said Chelsea are interested and bid will be made soon. Fast forward a week or two and they reported again last week that "Chelsea are super interested and a bid will be made in the coming hours". Guess what... a week or so later nothing at all. No Chelsea journos have mentioned any kind of bid. The only English journos who have mentioned it have quoted Sport and added their own guff into the mix. It's a joke. You'd think if Chelsea were interested, their close journos would know and report on it, but no, they've got bigger fish to fry and are trying to concentrate on them (even if Barca keep stealing their players that they want)

Not sure PSG have been mentioned. Ten Hag will have had assurances from de Jong and he'd have even spoken to him about the Chelsea links, and if he told him that he's prefer to go to Chelsea or anywhere else for that matter, then i'm sure United would have walked away by now as it's pointless if his mind has already been made.

 

[TheReligion]

So they haven't accepted an offer for him from us after all.. there was no deal in place..

It was said it was agreed, not accepted.

It’s a non story.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

We've seen Bale decide to sit his contract out at Real Madrid in similar circumstances though. If the player is determined enough to get his money, that can get very messy and will lose Barcelona more money in the long run.

Bale was 30, had won the lot, cared more about golf than football and was a guaranteed starter for Wales regardless of playing time.
This is FDJ’s peak we’re talking about, not remotely similar.

 

[TheReligion]

Kounde and FdJ at CB will be good for them. Like when they converted Mascherano, just with more ball playing ability. Obviously building a team to dominate possession.

Very naive if you think that’s what they are planning when you consider who else they have at CB

 

[VidaRed]

31 pages more to go you muppets.

 

[Brownie85]

So they haven't accepted an offer for him from us after all.. there was no deal in place..

Well no, they've AGREED an offer, not accepted it.
If they've accepted it, then they'd have taken our money and spent it. We have to have an agreement with the player before any money can be accepted i'd imagine.
Theres a difference between agreeing a offer and accepting an offer

 

[RedRonaldo]

Kounde and FdJ at CB will be good for them. Like when they converted Mascherano, just with more ball playing ability. Obviously building a team to dominate possession.

I just wonder, if he successfully transformed into CB, do we still need him next summer? But I reckon Martinez would be better for us in that role.

 

[Harold_Giles]

Footage just in of xavi talking to frenkie

Brilliant movie btw

 

[jadajos]

So they haven't accepted an offer for him from us after all.. there was no deal in place..

There is a difference between agreed and accepted. A deal was agreed, but stuff needs to happen for it do be contractually accepted. Here’s a likely translation of Laportas quotes from earlier:

He is our player, we really like him = „Frenkie, we’re starting to really fancy you as a backup CB if you won’t let go of those 17m“

We received some offers but didn’t accept... as of now… = „Just nod once you’ve resigned to never seeing those 17m Frenkie and all this will be over swiftly“

We want to talk to him, we want to know what he wants = „Frenkie, its been about an hour since we last asked, you really want those 17m still?“

We need to clarify some aspects of this situation = „Dude, we spent those 17m on Lewandowskis sign-on fee, let it go“

 

[Chief123]

Bench CB for an entire season, in a world cup year. Or play every single game with a manager that is desperate for you, and play in your exact position. Not hard, imo

If it makes so much footballing sense and you believe he isn’t owed any money then why has the transfer not happened yet? There’s literally nothing going for him at Barca anymore. Even future wages he would get at a similar level at Utd.

 

[the_cliff]

This saga has just been confusing. All summer Barca have apparently needed to sell to register players. Signed 4 new players and only now feel the need to clarify his situation.

 

[NZT-One]

Short sighted approach. We then set a rod for our own backs for future negotiations for other players. We are doing the right thing, it’s up to Barca to resolve this. Morally and otherwise.

You are right. The right thing would have been to step away from this whole mess 2 or 3 weeks ago. Or at least put it to a back burner where it doesn't block anything else. You are just adding more factors into the equasion to make it look better. The essentials are we are in need of midfield players, we identified one we want to buy, we want to bring him in as soon as possible so the manager and the rest of the team can get to know each other for as long as possible before the season start. You know, the season of football where we are supposed to perform to the best of our abilities to get as much points as possible. Some of you guys add more factors to it like "show Barca we aren't pushovers", "show the world how we do business" and "we give the new manager exactly what he asked for". Those messages mean nothing, our reputation in terms of transfers is damaged for a while, this little "message" won't change anything. A positive message is that we prioritize the team before fecking 17 million. The price we bought a no-name LB for 2 weeks ago, the one position in the squad where the urgency to act was probably the lowest.

 

[TheReligion]

Well no, they've AGREED an offer, not accepted it.
If they've accepted it, then they'd have taken our money and spent it. We have to have an agreement with the player before any money can be accepted i'd imagine.
Theres a difference between agreeing a offer and accepting an offer

I also imagine there’s contract implications to consider if they formally accept it.

It’s publicly showing they aren’t forcing him out when they are.

 

[golden_blunder]

I just wonder, if he successfully transformed into CB, do we still need him next summer? But I reckon Martinez would be better for us in that role.

No we wouldn’t be buying him as a CB. ETH has already stated where his strengths lie

 

[Ahmer Baig]

Red bid or blue bid?

Red bid Green bid

 

[Remember the geese]

Isn't he a bit small to play center back?
Can he play in midfield, does Anyone know?

Underrated post.

 

[Brownie85]

I also imagine there’s contract implications to consider if they formally accept it.

It’s publicly showing they aren’t forcing him out when they are.

Pretty much.
I still maintain they're trying their best to portray the picture that they're the good guys and that de Jong is the arsehole for not working with them to come to a solution that keeps him at the club.

 

[Robindinho]

The road is jong, with many a winding turn.

 

[RedRonaldo]

They are deferred payments so it's money that he's entitled to, and will get, if he's determined enough to get it.

I agree there will likely need to be a compromise. But Barcelona's position is quite clear - they're trying to feck him over, and that will include any settlement they offer him.


I'm not saying he will be a key player, I'm speaking from a perspective of not playing him whatsoever. If they decide to do that, good luck to them.

We've seen Bale decide to sit his contract out at Real Madrid in similar circumstances though. If the player is determined enough to get his money, that can get very messy and will lose Barcelona more money in the long run.

But with Bale he has already done enough in his career with 4 CL trophies as one of key player in the team, so sitting until the end of his very well paid contract would not be bad idea, especially when he could spend more of his time on another new found interest in golf. With FDJ he has achieved nothing so far, I doubt he would want to risk his career with nothing.

 

[golden_blunder]

You are right. The right thing would have been to step away from this whole mess 2 or 3 weeks ago. Or at least put it to a back burner where it doesn't block anything else. You are just adding more factors into the equasion to make it look better. The essentials are we are in need of midfield players, we identified one we want to buy, we want to bring him in as soon as possible so the manager and the rest of the team can get to know each other for as long as possible before the season start. You know, the season of football where we are supposed to perform to the best of our abilities to get as much points as possible. Some of you guys add more factors to it like "show Barca we aren't pushovers", "show the world how we do business" and "we give the new manager exactly what he asked for". Those messages mean nothing, our reputation in terms of transfers is damaged for a while, this little "message" won't change anything. A positive message is that we prioritize the team before fecking 17 million. The price we bought a no-name LB for 2 weeks ago, the one position in the squad where the urgency to act was probably the lowest.

What is like to see is leave our offer on the table and keep contact channels open with frenkies team.
Then get to work on other areas including sales and loans.

in regards to LB I’m delighted we got Malacia. Telles is dung and Shaw has fitness issues along with done fundamentals defensive deficiencies which hopefully can be ironed out. If not, we have someone better than telles ready to take that spot

 

[Berbaclass]

Do you think he’s a centre half?

 

[NZT-One]

That would be a terrible precedent for United to make. All of a sudden Antony’s agent, Pavard’s agent, and whomever else we target this or next summer would want a massive signing fee: “You paid Frenkie de Jong how much?”

You can buy another good solid player, or pay a 5-year-contract of such a player, for that money.

Mate, we bought fecking Maguire for 80 million, DVB for 40, AWB for 50. Do you really think, our reputation is anything we have to be proud of? It should be about bringing the team together. If it has to be FDJ, solve the issue somehow. If next year Antony or Parvard or whoever asks for something we are not ready to do, we say "different situation, if you insist on your claims, feck off".

 

[Wicked_Badger]

Next summer will be a goal keeper saga I feel

Surely a Striker saga?

Ronaldo returns from his loan spell at Atlectico, but the club have made him sign an extra 1 year extension prior to agreeing the loan, in order to sell him on next summer to a Saudi club & finance another forward. EtH wants to ship him out but Ronnie doesn’t want to leave as we’ve qualified for the CL and look competitive again. All the while our priority striker won’t sign whilst the spectre of Ronnie staying and starting looms.

Stalemate summer.

That or Bellingham.