Frenkie de Jong | The last muppeting lap

[Trequarista10]

Nope. It is to leave immediately given that he has a standby buyer with a manager that understands him really well. He can't risk it, it's a world cup year. 17m is a dwarf compared to him losing his own reputation and a spot in the world cup. Also makes him look like an even bigger idiot each day. Barca obviously doesn't want to pay and everyone knows they have problems with money. They are scummy, does Frenkie seriously think given enough time they will succumb to his demands without something negative as a "payback"? let's say that by some miracle they end up paying the money, I bet they wouldn't shut up about it and will make Frenkie as a bad example.

Leaving immediately would be insane. They will pay him. He might only get 80 or 90%, United may end up paying a % of it, but Barca will literally have to pay him off.

They won't want to make a huge scene out of it because if they admit to paying him off, it will hugely damage their negotiating position in the future with other players. And there's not really anyway of spinning it to make them look good, other than to the most biased Barca fanbois. An agreement will be reached, likely all 3 parties contributing a little, and the exact details will never be revealed. Obviously some people will assume to know the details and emotionally rant about how one party or the other was in the wrong or got done over. Such is football fandom I suppose.

I just think it's weird to criticise someone for going about it quietly and professionally. Compared to say, Ronaldo, whose agent and family are publicly angling for a move away, and not showing up for pre-season due to suspicious family reasons. I know which approach I think is classier.

 

[Trex]

Of course the writing is on the wall but calling it an insult is a gross exaggeration.

Yeah Xavi is being a cnut though, being an ex footballer would he have liked to be treated in this manner.
Its only a matter of time before he gets the same treatment.

 

[Sandikan]

The thing is, as i've said millions of times now (or at least it feels that way), we're only getting what the media are telling us, and most of it is coming from Barca, painting a narrative that they want us to hear. Even United complained that what Barca tell the media and what they tell United themselves is two different things, leading them to question whats real and whats not.

United, ten Hag, de Dong and Barca

Nice typo

 

[Sandikan]

I truly believe he's coming, 110%. I think it'll be sooner rather than later too, as Barca will want to get someone else in won't they

Were you one of those super optimists screaming how this was imminent about 10 weeks ago?
Bar blind optimism surely the only tiny thing that points towards this happening is the impending transfer window end, and a need for a conclusion?
But that is still a 50-50 outcome at best?

 

[Trex]

A) This is a very passive stance, as if we are scared to make a mistake we rather stand still in the hope that somebody else moves. I understand that, but it isn't very proactive. Which I think makes for good leadership. And it isn't like being passive doesn't come with a cost itself. Our season preparation is impacted, alternatives may get more expensive, the time to act is reduced.

B) if the player is as vital as you say (I hope he isn't because then we're one injury away from being fecked over again) then why aren't we forcing things? There is talk about 17 million. I remember seeing an article that stated, that Barca is ready to give him 3-4 million. Thats 14 million, ask FDJ to give away 2, add 6 million to his wage package for the full contract time of 3 or 4 years, give him 3 million sign off bonus and give him 3 million in achievable performance based boni. If he isn't ready to lose 2 million, increase his loyality bonus. Done dealio. Lets not act as if our hands are tied so we are forced to wait. Thats not the case.

And if a club has nothing to lose in terms of recruitment reputation, it is us. I don't even think, it will damage our reputation, we show determination and intent by just breaking a barrier. If needed put Barca on the "no future deals" list later and avoid them but lets be pragmatic now.

I agree we're being really passive, Barca-Frenkie saga is going to affect our season we should be more proactive, we should either be looking for avenues to get it sorted or going for someone else.
At the moment we are just sitting on our hands.

 

[Brownie85]

Nice typo

hahaha omg didn't even notice, changed it now though

 

[tenpoless]

Leaving immediately would be insane. They will pay him. He might only get 80 or 90%, United may end up paying a % of it, but Barca will literally have to pay him off.

They won't want to make a huge scene out of it because if they admit to paying him off, it will hugely damage their negotiating position in the future with other players. And there's not really anyway of spinning it to make them look good, other than to the most biased Barca fanbois. An agreement will be reached, likely all 3 parties contributing a little, and the exact details will never be revealed. Obviously some people will assume to know the details and emotionally rant about how one party or the other was in the wrong or got done over. Such is football fandom I suppose.

I just think it's weird to criticise someone for going about it quietly and professionally. Compared to say, Ronaldo, whose agent and family are publicly angling for a move away, and not showing up for pre-season due to suspicious family reasons. I know which approach I think is classier.

The thing is there's not much time left. He is risking it because Barca has no legal obligation to pay him what he's currently waiting on. It's a battle he can't win, he is at the mercy of Barca. You may want to take a look at Barca's stance over this matter over the past month or so. They won't pay Frenkie so he can join his new club, all while still conducting incoming transfers themselves. If it's United that has to pay then it's dumb. The analogy would be I paid for a property but because the owner has debts now I have to pay for the debts as well on top of the property's price? madness.

 

[NLunited]

Fecking unbelievable. Now Xavi is making himself look bad. ‚I value Frenkie as a cb‘
He has played there when many other defenders were injured, that‘s it.

Why are players still flocking to Barça? Money. They are offering a lot of it while squeezing the players already there. Ridiculous contracts. LaFatso‘s wage structure is just blindsiding the players already there.

If I was Frenkie I‘d ask for the 17 million AND the future loyalty bonuses. They don‘t deserve a settlement, the fecking cnuts.

Stay and destabilize the dressing room. Brag about how much you are paid.

That‘s what I would do.

FFP hammer gonna come down soon. Relax and sit tight muppetz.

 

[EngimaMK]

I want us to walk away at this point. If he is happy to be treated like this and still remain loyal, then leave him to it.

I don't want this guy coming to us so begrudgingly

 

[Plant0x84]

I agree we're being really passive, Barca-Frenkie saga is going to affect our season we should be more proactive, we should either be looking for avenues to get it sorted or going for someone else.
At the moment we are just sitting on our hands.

Take the Sancho saga first time round as an example. We chased him all summer until it was clear we wouldn’t get him, then last minute signed Amad and Pellistri for the RW. Everybody agreed it was a last minute panic move and the wrong thing to do. So now we are sitting tight and confident of getting the player even it we have to wait and most seem to think it is the wrong move and we should sign an inferior option. We can’t have it both ways.

 

[Plant0x84]

I want us to walk away at this point. If he is happy to be treated like this and still remain loyal, then leave him to it.

I don't want this guy coming to us so begrudgingly

Clearly you don’t understand the politics at play here. Never mind. Another one @golden_blunder. Ding ding!

 

[phelans shorts]

I want us to walk away at this point. If he is happy to be treated like this and still remain loyal, then leave him to it.

I don't want this guy coming to us so begrudgingly

Why on earth are you making up that he’s happy with the situation?

He’s being professional. The opposite of what a certain player at our own club is doing. It’s what he should be doing, just as we are doing exactly what we should in leaving him and Barcelona to sort out their mess.

 

[tenpoless]

I believe he will come, I just hope it wont be United that has to pay for Barca's own incompetence. Don't let them to use United as another lever.

 

[Brownie85]

Clearly you don’t understand the politics at play here. Never mind. Another one @golden_blunder. Ding ding!

Such a shame that muppets are falling so easily, even after positive tweets today.
Muppetdom isn't for everyone i suppose

 

[Tarrou]

i don't see anything wrong with this. Manager can play him at any position if needed. It's up to the player to prove otherwise.

They are obviously trying to push him out with comments like these his manager is clearly telling him he isn’t in his plans in midfield

 

[Maticmaker]

But you know this, so stop playing the knobhead.

Takes one to know one !!

 

[Chief123]

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That is ground breaking discovery there by Dawson. It’s only just dawned upon the world that transfers have to be done before the transfer deadline. Damn, if only we would have known beforehand!

 

[NZT-One]

Fecking unbelievable. Now Xavi is making himself look bad. ‚I value Frenkie as a cb‘
He has played there when many other defenders were injured, that‘s it.

Why are players still flocking to Barça? Money. They are offering a lot of it while squeezing the players already there. Ridiculous contracts. LaFatso‘s wage structure is just blindsiding the players already there.

If I was Frenkie I‘d ask for the 17 million AND the future loyalty bonuses. They don‘t deserve a settlement, the fecking cnuts.

Stay and destabilize the dressing room. Brag about how much you are paid.

That‘s what I would do.

FFP hammer gonna come down soon. Relax and sit tight muppetz.

This makes sense as long as the objective is "giving Barca what it deserves for being ... " but shouldn't our sole objective be bringing the Man United squad together asap to have them prepare to the absolute best level possible? We don't get anything if Barca implodes - nice to feel morally better, but that won't result in more league points I guess.

Take the Sancho saga first time round as an example. We chased him all summer until it was clear we wouldn’t get him, then last minute signed Amad and Pellistri for the RW. Everybody agreed it was a last minute panic move and the wrong thing to do. So now we are sitting tight and confident of getting the player even it we have to wait and most seem to think it is the wrong move and we should sign an inferior option. We can’t have it both ways.

But this stance has the premise that in the end we will get him. Which, no matter how optimistic some of you are, isn't a certainty. And a serious club shouldn't just be built on optimism and faith. You are right, of course we should avoid panic buys as much as possible, this is the reason why some fans want to step away now so there is at least a small chance to avoid the panic.

I can only point it out - it is cool, that some of you have that unwavering optimism, but that isn't a fact unfortunately.

 

[MDFC Manager]

Think when it finally hits home Donny still can't do it with Erik in charge we will go for someone then

Ooh yes, I forgot Donny.

 

[Brownie85]

That is ground breaking discovery there by Dawson. It’s only just dawned upon the world that transfers have to be done before the transfer deadline. Damn, if only we would have known beforehand!

If only there was something like a deadline day thing, where a big fuss was made of it, people might actually be aware that it exists!
Maybe someone should jump on that??

 

[Trex]

The thing is Barca have taken a passive aggressive stance to get rid of Frenkie instead of being upfront him because they know if they're upfront they'll have to pay him off.
They want a scenario were he'll get frustrated and seek an exit forfeiting the money, this is far from done now, we don't even know if either party would blink within this window.
Barcelona seem to be using the Chelsea card against, almost like if we walk Chelsea will come in.
I don't like the idea of our plans being in the hands of Barca and Frenkie.

 

[Unam333]

This is such a messy transfer, but after recent developments I am more confident than ever that De Jong will leave Barcelona this summer.

 

[Trequarista10]

The thing is there's not much time left. He is risking it because Barca has no legal obligation to pay him what he's currently waiting on. It's a battle he can't win, he is at the mercy of Barca. You may want to take a look at Barca's stance over this matter over the past month or so. They won't pay Frenkie so he can join his new club, all while still conducting incoming transfers themselves. If it's United that has to pay then it's dumb. The analogy would be I paid for a property but because the owner has debts now I have to pay for the debts as well on top of the property's price? madness.

I mean, the fact they're still spending on incomings means they have an even greater need for outgoings. They are financially fecked, and are delaying out of desperation to try and save a few million. They can not afford to keep him.

United will end up paying a %. I agree with your property analogy, I used it myself earlier in this thread. If I had one criticism of the whole deal it would be that you'd think the wages issue would have been factored in to the transfer fee. Surprising that United agreed a fee to pay Barca, and seemingly both Barca and United thought the other would cover the deferred wages. You'd think that the transfer fee would have taken into account any money to cover De Jongs wages. If Barca expect us to pay him say 5m, then the transfer fee would need to be 5m less. But then it could just be United playing hardball because of Barca's financial position. Its all speculation really.

I'd be more worried about the delay if it wasn't De Jong, but given he's worked with ETH before I think he'll slot in seamlessly even if he misses the whole preseason.

 

[MF1138]

The thing is there's not much time left. He is risking it because Barca has no legal obligation to pay him what he's currently waiting on. It's a battle he can't win, he is at the mercy of Barca. You may want to take a look at Barca's stance over this matter over the past month or so. They won't pay Frenkie so he can join his new club, all while still conducting incoming transfers themselves. If it's United that has to pay then it's dumb. The analogy would be I paid for a property but because the owner has debts now I have to pay for the debts as well on top of the property's price? madness.

They do have a legal obligation he has a contract with them and that remains true up to and until he is sold. In order for him to end that contract and move he is demanding them to pay what he rightly feels he is owed. So he is 100% right to hold that over their heads.

 

[Plant0x84]

This makes sense as long as the target is "giving Barca what it deserves for being ... " but shouldn't our sole target be on bringing the Man United squad together asap to have them prepare to the absolute best level possible? We don't get anything if Barca implodes - nice to feel morally better, but that won't result in better football results.


But this stance has the premise that in the end we will get him. Which, no matter how optimistic some of you are, isn't a certainty. And a serious club shouldn't just be built on optimism. You are right, of course we should avoid panic buys as much as possible, this is the reason why some fans want to step away now so there is at least a small chance to avoid the panic.

There’s nothing to say we haven’t identified and sounded out an alternative player behind closed doors. Not everything the club does has to be in the gaze of the worlds media.

 

[OrcaFat]

The thing is there's not much time left. He is risking it because Barca has no legal obligation to pay him what he's currently waiting on. It's a battle he can't win, he is at the mercy of Barca. You may want to take a look at Barca's stance over this matter over the past month or so. They won't pay Frenkie so he can join his new club, all while still conducting incoming transfers themselves. If it's United that has to pay then it's dumb. The analogy would be I paid for a property but because the owner has debts now I have to pay for the debts as well on top of the property's price? madness.

He is not at the mercy of Barca. They can’t make him leave. If they want him to leave they’ll have to make it worth his while.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Takes one to know one !!

100%

 

[Salt Bailly]

If I'm reading the twinges in my undercarriage right, this should be wrapped up by Thursday afternoon at latest.

 

[Berbaclass]

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[NZT-One]

There’s nothing to say we haven’t identified and sounded out an alternative player behind closed doors. Not everything the club does has to be in the gaze of the worlds media.

You might be right. I find it a bit incongruent though, some of you are using Xavis quotes to up their optimism on the one side but don't see the absence of "news" as a potential issue.
As I said, I'd love to be as confident as you are. I wonder though, if there are alternatives, why not make it more public, would increase the pressure on the other parties, wouldn't it? Because right now, it seems like United is the Beta guy waiting for the pretty girl to fix the mess with his ex bf. Somewhat knowing that she is still in love with him plus knowing that the bf fecked both over and is now looking for a quick fix. Who knows, wouldn't even be shocked, if FDJ people and Barca people would expect us to jump in to fix their issues. Because it doesn't seem that there is an effort between club and player to fix this.

 

[Brownie85]

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[Rolaholic]

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Can't remember seeing a player getting cucked by their own club like this

 

[P-Nut]

Surprised no-one posted his highlights from last night. Can see how limited he is back there

 

[Brownie85]

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Thats insane really when you think about it. Add in that Kounde is arriving soon too, he'd be a bench warming CB haha.

 

[mu4c_20le]

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No worries, he can still play out from the back so he'll be happy to stay.

 

[Gator Nate]

He is not at the mercy of Barca. They can’t make him leave. If they want him to leave they’ll have to make it worth his while.

The real question in my mind is, do they really want this thing to go to the court of arbitration? By contract, he can just sit there. But the way they renegotiated his contract, then tried to get rid of him to avoid paying it while buying players to replace him, is not going to sit well with any arbitrator, I don't think.

 

[NLunited]

I want us to walk away at this point. If he is happy to be treated like this and still remain loyal, then leave him to it.

I don't want this guy coming to us so begrudgingly

So you want him to say he wants to come to us and abandon 17 million in unpaid wages from the last two years?

That‘s mental mate.

 

[golden_blunder]

When do you reckon that happens?

That’s a guess really, maybe another couple of weeks when they realise he’s not going to go and they start to panic

 

[SalfordRed18]

Have you ever fancied someone in a relationship, and they keep getting mugged off to the point where them being pathetic and staying is so unattractive? And you question if you want Barcelonas sloppy seconds?

 

[Plant0x84]

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You know it!