News about Frenkie de Jong

CHRIS WHEELER: Casemiro was once a talisman for Ten Hag who was practically indispensable. 'The cement between the stones,' is how the United manager described him last season, and that didn't feel like an understatement. Fast forward 16 months and it looked like Casemiro was running in cement on his return to Selhurst Park, an even more miserable experience that ended with a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Olise and Co that has plunged Ten Hag's future into even greater doubt.

This year's Champions League semi-finalists have been decided following four thrilling quarter-final ties. It was a bad week for English clubs as Man City and Arsenal were knocked out by Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, respectively. Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund edged past Atletico Madrid, and PSG came from behind to see off Barcelona. There were outstanding individual performances across the round, but some players also struggled on the big stage.

Barcelona has reportedly revealed that they had paid a high price for highly rated midfielder Frenkie De Jong amid a flurry of interest from the Premier League. After the Premier League club put in a £70 million bid, the Netherlands international seemed to be on a collision course with Manchester United in 2022, but De Jong decided to remain with the LaLiga giants. The Red Devils have piqued an interest in the midfielder, though Chelsea has also been keeping an eye on the 26-year-old's situation.

After being found to have incorrectly paid player agent fees between 2012 and 2015, Barcelona has been ordered to pay £19.4 million. The decision was first issued by the Central Economic Admin Court in 2020, but following an appeal from the club, Spain's National Court has upheld the decision. Barcelona said in a tweet that the decision was'surprising,' and that they'd appeal another time through the Spanish Supreme Court.

According to reports, Frenkie De Jong is closer than ever to leaving Barcelona after being dissatisfie with the club's current situation. Since his former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag's announcement of his Old Trafford arrival, the 26-year-old was heavily linked to a move to Manchester United in 2022. United eventually made a £70 million bid for him, but a bargain was almost 90 percent complete. However, despite sending club representatives out to Spain, United were unable to reach an agreement, with De Jong admitting that he wanted to stay at the LaLiga club.

Frenkie de Jong's agent hasn't replied positively to rumors that the player feigned illness to miss Barcelona's trip to Royal Antwerp in midweek, slamming claims as 'fake news' in a tumultuous rant. After losing 3-2 in a thrilling encounter on Wednesday night, the Blaugrana were shocked by the Belgian team, playing in the Champions League for the first time in their history. In less than two minutes through Arthur Vermeeren, the hosts took the lead before the break, but it wasn't until former Tottenham star Vincent Jansson made it 2-1 to Antwerp that an electric finish took the ball.

Donny van de Beek has been linked with a departure from Manchester United ahead of the transfer window, with the perennially out-of-favour Dutchman now reportedly requesting Barcelona. After playing for Ajax in their infamous Champions League run in 2018-19, van de Beek emerged as one of Europe's most exciting young midfielders after beating Real Madrid and Juventus. Van de Beek stayed on another season before leaving for Man United, compatriots Frenkie De Jong and Matthijs De Ligt.

PETE JENSON: Barcelona has apologised for a tweet from one of the company's representatives condemning Vinicius' racial in last weekend's match between Real Madrid and Sevilla. During Real Madrid's 2-1 victory over Braga on Tuesday night, Mikel Camps took to social media to announce that "It's not bigotry, he deserved a slap for being a clown." What do these unnecessary and meaningless stepovers represent in the center of the field?' Vinicius was the subject of a rash attack in Sevilla's away draw, with the Spanish club lauding prompt action in banning one of the spectators involved.

PETE JENSON: Joao Felix travelled just over 20,000 miles this summer on Atletico Madrid's pre-season tour, but he never kicked a ball. Having gone public about it being his 'dream' to play for Barcelona, he had already burned what remaining bridges he may have seen with the Atletico fans. And yet, he was still in Diego Simeone's squad on the last day of August - the coach who didn't like him and the coach who didn't want him. On the deadline day, he had been planning to move to Barcelona, but in just three weeks since then everything has changed. He told El Mundo Deportivo on Thursday, "I believed and I still believe that this is the right spot for me," he told El Mundo Deportivo, who cannot believe him after his first two games. Barcelona had not won 5-0 in back to back matches since Lionel Messi left, and after beating Betis and Royal Antwerp by a scoreline, there are rumors that the Portuguese will fill the void left by Barcelona's greatest ever player.

CHRIS WHEELER IN DUBLIN:Wout Weghorst gave Irish hearts a break with the aim that almost certainly ends their hopes of automatic qualification for Euro 2024, and heaps more pressure on boss Stephen Kenny. At the Aviva Stadium last night, the former Manchester United striker, who failed to impress during a loan stint at Old Trafford last season and now plays for Hoffenheim in Germany, stepped off the bench to finish Holland's comeback after Ireland stunned Ronaldo Koeman's side by taking the lead.

FEMAIL's manager, Mikky Kiemeney, 25, who is expecting his first child, is struggling to find Frenkie De Jong amid the current events. Mikky, who is a former pro hockey player, appears to have it all, from trips to luxurious beach clubs to skiing holidays and shopping snaps.

Despite signing midfielder Laimer on a free transfer, Tuchel is still keen to develop experience in the position, and has identified Barcelona's De Jong as the right candidate, according to Footmercato. Since his arrival in Spain in 2019, the 26-year-old has had a rough time, but much of the unrest was not due to his own doing. The Netherlands international has put on consistent results, but financial difficulties affecting the club have kept him off the chopping block.

Despite rumors linking Amourricho van Axel Dongen to a move to Manchester United, the Ajax wonderkid has signed a new deal at the club. During his time as head of the Dutch giants, the left-winger, 18, made his first team debut under Erik ten Hag. Van Axel Dongen, who attended the club's youth academy in 2013, progressed to the Abedelhak Nouri trophy, which was presented to the club's top young talent. Ten Hag was given his first Ajax appearance against BVV Barendrecht in a KNVB Cup match during the 2021-22 season.

Manchester United is hoping to beat other clubs and win the competition to sign Rosenburg starlet Sverre Nypan. The 16-year-old has been on United's radar for more than a year and is considered one of Scandinavia's top performers. Nypan scored his first senior goal against Bodo Glimt on Saturday, having made his debut in November at the age of 15.

CHRIS WHEELER: Sabitzer came from Bayern Munich on loan in January, but reports indicate that a decision regarding whether or not to make the transfer permanent has yet to be made. The two clubs will liaise over the 29-year-old's medical and rehabilitation. United are likely to be looking for a new central midfielder this summer, having previously been linked with Frenkie De Jong, Jude Bellingham, and Declan Rice.

Frenkie de Jong and Vinicius Jr. were involved in a violent altercation in Barcelona's Copa del Rey clash. Madrid was hosting their El Clasico opponents in the first leg of their semi-final tie, with the pair separated in La Liga title contention by Barcelona's seven-point lead. The game between the two teams was more spilt over in the first half, as De Jong and Vinicius Jr clashed after a tumultuous run by the Dutch midfielder. De Jong shrugged off a Luka Modric challenge before skipping past his midfield partner Toni Kroos and continuing to keep track of the ball. Vinicius Jr., a Barcelona midfielder, tried to put an arm and leg together to prevent De Jong's from running, but the Barcelona midfielder stallled his progress until his next move.

Barcelona (pictured) was surprisingly defeated by the relegation candidates on Sunday thanks to a single goal from El Bilal Toure. Barcelona is seven points ahead of Real Madrid in second place, and the LaLiga champions are strong favorites to win the LaLiga title with just 15 games remaining this season. However, Los Blancos (inset) maintain that the championship race is still alive, and that, according to the Athletic, the club's WhatsApp group came alive around 8.20 p.m., shortly after Barca's defeat was announced. The messages were said to have been both joyful and satisfaction, with some mocking their rivals.

Barcelona was defeated 1-0 by Rubi's relegation-thrashed Almeria side (inset bottom) at the Estadio Mediterráneo on Sunday. In the 24th minute, Malian forward El Bilal Toure scored the only goal of the game, with Barca unable to score amid the presence of big-name stars Robert Lewandowski and Frenkie de Jong. And Barca boss Xavi (right) reacted angrily to the verdict, claiming that their lax results could cost them the La Liga crown if they do not follow their plans up. 'This was our worst match of the season,' he said. I'm really pi***ed off. It was too difficult.'

PETE JENSON: Frenkie de Jong's timing has always been one of his best points, including interceptions and runs into the box, and it's right on the money again, because he has been in peak form right as the club that tried to sign him in the summer arrives in town. On Sunday, Juang, the basketball team's defender, played the ball 17 times more than any other player. Barcelona defeated Barcelona in 11 points clear at the top with him having more passes. They are fugitive leaders for a variety of reasons, but they are one of the most influential. He may have been doing all this at Manchester United, but his desire to remain in Barcelona prevented him from moving to Old Trafford. Erik ten Hag knew the player from Ajax and had zero doubts that he would be the summer signing of the season if he could be convinced.

Enzo Fernandez's first 12 months have been a whirlwind in the sense that nearly every young footballer could only dream about. Fernandez was still finding his feet on the elite Argentine side of River Plate at the start of 2022 and he was looking forward to embarking on what was already a promising career. He is now a Benfica actor who is on the verge of joining Chelsea in a £112 million transfer. It comes just weeks after winning the World Cup with Argentina, after being named the best young player by FIFA in Qatar.

N'Golo Kante is reportedly close to completing a pre-contract contract with Barcelona as soon as January, although Barcelona seems to be able to sign the Frenchman to expand his midfield next season. According to Sport, the Chelsea midfielder is nearing an agreement with the Catalan giants, with his latest deal with Stamford Bridge set to end at the end of the current season. Kante's latest injury kept him out of the World Cup, but that hasn't stopped him from being linked with Barca and travelling with the Blues in Abu Dhabi on their warm weather training camp.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has defended his team after being chastised following their World Cup quarter-final victory over Holland. Following their penalty shoot-out victory, the South American nation advanced to the semi-finals in a tumultuous competition that culminated in horrific scenes. Argentina players screamed at their disconsolate Dutch counterparts as they raced away to celebrate qualifying for the next round after Lautaro Martinez scored the decisive spot-kick.

Denzel Dumfries, Wout Weghorst, Noa Lang, and Frenkie De Jong all broke off from the team huddle to celebrate the strike after Luuk de Jong swept his penalty home to keep Holland alive. The quartet skipped Martinez and fired a few words in his direction to ramp up the mind games as Holland's World Cup destiny was in the custody of the Inter Milan striker. Martinez, on the other hand, was not flustered by what his opponents had to say, cruising past Andries Noppert to book a semi-final date with Croatia.

Cheikhou Kouyate may not have wished for a bad start to his World Cup, with Senegal's star being forced off the field after a bizarre occurrence involving Frenkie De Jong. De Jong collapsed to the ground and ended up trying to grab what felt to be the worst thing that could have been done as the two teams clashed for the ball. De Jong was clearly in a lot of pain, and the stretcher had to come back to pull him off the field.