The One Shirt Number Frenkie De Jong Could Reject If He Joins Manchester United From Barcelona
De Jong turned it down when he joined Barcelona from Ajax.
If Frenkie de Jong does move to Manchester United this summer, there is one available shirt number he is likely to turn down based on past form.
United have reportedly agreed a £63.5m deal with Barcelona for De Jong but there is no guarantee that a move will happen, with the Netherlands international yet to agree personal terms with the Premier League club.
The 25-year-old is currently locked in a contract dispute with Barcelona over a reported €17m (£14.4m) payment he is owed by the Catalan club after deferring part of his wages and bonuses during the coronavirus pandemic.
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De Jong is also thought to prefer staying in Spain over a move to Old Trafford.
However, multiple reports claim Barcelona have informed the midfielder he must leave the club and join United this summer.
If De Jong does move to Manchester to reunite with his former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag, there are several notable shirt numbers available to him at Old Trafford.
The number 6 shirt is currently free following Paul Pogba's departure from the club, while numbers 14 and 31 have also been vacated by Jesse Lingard and Nemanja Matic respectively.
De Jong is unlikely to take the number 14 shirt, having previously turned it down at Barcelona due to its connection with club icon Johan Cruyff.
"I don't think it's very wise to take the number 14 shirt,” he said after joining Barcelona in 2019.
"I don't want to be compared with Johan Cruyff, that's too much."
Fortunately for De Jong, the number 21 shirt he currently wears at Barcelona is also available at United.
It was last worn by Edinson Cavani, who also left the club in the summer transfer window.
Other previous wearers include Dan James, Ander Herrera, Rafael and Diego Forlan.
United supporters are unlikely to mind which shirt De Jong plays in next season, as long as it is a Manchester United one.
Topics: Manchester United, Football, Premier League, Frenkie De Jong, Transfers, La Liga, Barcelona
Rory O'Callaghan