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Ernesto Valverde 'did not want Frenkie de Jong at Barcelona'

Valverde 'did not want De Jong at Barca'
© Reuters
Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde was reportedly not responsible for signing Frenkie de Jong from Ajax earlier this year.

Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde was allegedly 'against' the signing of Ajax midfielder Frenkie de Jong.

During the early months of 2019, it was revealed that the Netherlands international had agreed a long-term deal at Camp Nou.

The former Ajax man has since gone on to make a total of 23 appearances for the Catalan giants, with all but two of those outings coming from the starting lineup.

However, De Telegraaf suggests that Valverde did not necessarily want to sign the 22-year-old, with the board at the Spanish giants instead pushing through the big-money addition.

The report also adds that it was De Jong who initially approached Barcelona regarding a potential transfer at the end of the 2018-19 campaign.

There is a further claim that the player is frustrated with not being deployed in what he feels is his natural position by Valverde, instead being left to feel that he is 'playing with a handbrake on'.

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona18122450203038
2Atletico MadridAtletico17115131112038
3Real Madrid17114237162137
4Athletic Bilbao1896327161133
5Villarreal177642928127
6Mallorca188371821-327
7Real Sociedad177461611525
8Osasuna176742225-325
9Real BetisBetis176652021-124
10GironaGirona176472325-222
11Sevilla176471823-522
12Rayo Vallecano175661920-121
13Celta Vigo176382528-321
14Las PalmasLas Palmas175482227-519
15Leganes174671523-818
16Getafe173771114-316
17AlavesAlaves174491928-916
18Espanyol1743101629-1315
19Real ValladolidValladolid1733111234-2212
20Valencia162591424-1011


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