“I tried to make him stay”, says Ter Stegen about De Jong

Last summer, De Jong was part of a massive transfer saga that went on for two whole months, but eventually, the move to Manchester United never materialized. This was, however, all between the clubs, De Jong himself never really wanted to move to Manchester. Ter Stegen has come out to say that he was the one who convinced Frenkie to stay at Camp Nou.  

WHAT DID THEY SAY?

While talking to The Times he said, “He brings a lot, I have a super high opinion of him, but I also expect a lot from him because he has so much talent. He sees and feels football in a different way and this is why he is someone that Gavi and Pedri, for example, can look up to.”

“I was hoping he would stay because this is the type of player I want to have on my team. I want to make it very clear, when I talked to him I tried to [make him stay]. One day I will just put him in something here [he pretends to tie a rope around a chair leg] to keep him here always. I hope he will be here for a long time.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Ter Stegen has kept a total of 16 clean sheets this season while conceding mere seven goals in 21 league matches.

WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

Talk of the devil and the devil appears. Well, it is the Red Devils whom De Jong and Barcelona faced last night in a first-leg fixture that ended in a 2-2 draw. However, De Jong will be eager to prove his worth in the return leg at Old Trafford as the Catalans aim to qualify for the next round.

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