Frenkie de Jong turned down his mentor’s offer last summer, and Manchester United has subsequently made five signings in that same position.
Manchester United has brought in five midfielders since Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong rejected the opportunity to reunite with his former Ajax mentor, Erik ten Hag, last summer. Despite investing £120 million to reinforce that area, it appears the Dutchman may now be prepared to explore his own unique approach.
Erik ten Hag wanted to re-sign former Ajax protégé Frenkie de Jong
While Frenkie de Jong didn’t directly face Manchester United last summer, it felt like both he and the English club were caught up in a strategic maneuver by the Catalan giants. The highly skilled midfielder, whom Ten Hag played a pivotal role in developing within the renowned Amsterdam system, appeared to be available for transfer until Barcelona swiftly changed course, making him a central figure in their triumphant title pursuit.
Like many instances in football, finances played a significant role. Frenkie de Jong had outstanding wages deferred since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, what truly mattered to the 26-year-old was the chance to reclaim his spot in the team, continue residing in his beloved city, and demonstrate his value once again at Barcelona.
Frenkie de Jong certainly exceeded expectations last season after Xavi and the Camp Nou leadership decided to give him the opportunity he sought. However, for Manchester United, money wasn’t the primary concern, as they have consistently emphasized for over a year.
Manchester United invested more than £120 million in Casemiro and Mason Mount, who are entirely different players from both each other and Frenkie de Jong. The acquisition of Christian Eriksen on a free transfer proved to be a clever move, while Marcel Sabitzer was secured on loan from Bayern Munich during the January transfer window.
Sofyan Amrabat will bring strength to Man Utd’s midfield
Marcel Sabitzer has indeed made a permanent move back to the Bundesliga, specifically to Borussia Dortmund, from main rivals Bayern Munich this summer. In response, Manchester United has explored the same transfer market to identify his successor, Sofyan Amrabat. United secured Amrabat on loan for a fee of €10 million, with the option to buy, but not an obligation to do so.
In the past, present or future, De Jong would set them back at least twice that amount.
Casemiro, Mount, Eriksen, and Sabitzer each brought or bring distinctive qualities to Manchester United. However, the focus of these players has predominantly been on the attacking aspects of the game, with the exception of the Brazilian powerhouse, Casemiro, who excels defensively.
Frenkie de Jong was a special target for Manchester United because of his versatility and ability to contribute across various facets of the game. Sofyan Amrabat, like De Jong, possesses a skill set that covers a wide range of midfield responsibilities, making him an appealing option for the club.
Manchester United pushed hard to tempt Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona last summer.
“One of my wishes to get another [number] six”, said Ten Hag upon signing Amrabat, yet another player known to the United manager from their days at FC Utrecht together. “You need depth in there, in that position we only had Casemiro who can play really well there.”
“Also, he can play alongside Casemiro because he can play a little bit higher [as a box-to-box midfielder]. He’s very dynamic, he’s very good in the duels. We are pleased that we have him at United and he will contribute to our high targets we set… He fits very good to the Premier League and Champions League.”
While the dream scenario might have included both Casemiro and Frenkie de Jong for Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, the reality has led to Casemiro and Sofyan Amrabat. However, if Amrabat fulfills his promise, this might not necessarily be a downgrade for United. It’s clear that Ten Hag highly values Amrabat’s potential, and he reportedly made significant efforts to secure his services, which suggests a high level of confidence in the player’s abilities.
Initially, there may have been some concerns from the boardroom regarding the potential signing of Sofyan Amrabat. While Erik ten Hag’s preference for familiar players has been widely known, his loyalty doesn’t extend to blindly favoring them, as exemplified by the case of Donny van de Beek.
With Sofyan Amrabat in Manchester United’s midfield, ten Hag can both look forward and backward, suggesting that Amrabat’s qualities fit well into the team’s strategy and can contribute positively to its future endeavors.
