Xavi doesn't want to offload Barcelona star as unnamed club makes €80m offer for 25-year-old - Reports
Barcelona boss Xavi reportedly doesn't want to lose Frenkie de Jong after an unnamed club made an €80 million bid for the midfielder. The Dutchman continues to be linked with an exit despite having three years left in his deal.
According to SPORT, De Jong has been the subject of a big-money offer from an unnamed club. The €80 million bid is said to have enticed Blaugrana president Joan Laporta.
However, the Spaniard is backing Xavi's project at the Camp Nou and will retain De Jong if the manager has anything to do with it. He wants to keep the 25-year-old midfielder, as he reckons there's no one available with De Jong's potential.
Xavi views De Jong as a fundamental member of his Barcelona midfield. The player has made 19 appearances across competitions, scoring two goals and providing an assist. He arrived at the club from Ajax in 2019 for €86 million.
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The Dutchman was heavily linked with an exit in the summer, with Manchester United pursuing him throughout the transfer window. The reasons the Blaugrana considered De Jong's departure were his salary and refusal to lower his wages.
De Jong is also considered as untouchable by Xavi and the eventual heir to veteran midfielder Sergio Busquets. There are indications that Busquets could leave at the end of the season.
Xavi is delighted with Barcelona centre-back partnership of Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen
Xavi is enthused by the partnership of Araujo and Christensen in defence, with the duo performing brilliantly in Barcelona's 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid on Sunday (January 8). They nullified the threat posed by Atleti attackers and helped keep a clean sheet.
According to Marca, Xavi is happy with the partnership of Araujo and Christensen. The latter has exceeded expectations since arriving at the Camp Nou from Chelsea in the summer as a free agent. He has made ten appearances across competitions, contributing one assist and helping the side keep five clean sheets.
FC Barcelona signed Andreas Christensen for €0.
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Meanwhile, Araujo has returned from an adductors avulsion that saw him miss the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He has featured nine times, helping the Blaugrana keep four clean sheets. The Uruguayan is viewed as the more aggressive leader of the defensive pair.
They may line up together again when Barcelona host Real Betis in the semifinals of the Supercopa de Espana tomorrow (January 12).