• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
The One Shirt Number Frenkie De Jong Could Reject If He Joins Manchester United From Barcelona

Home> Football

Published 09:06 15 Jul 2022 GMT+1

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.

Rory O'Callaghan

Rory O'Callaghan

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.

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.

Advert

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.

The number 6 shirt is free at United following Paul Pogba's departure (Image: Alamy)
The number 6 shirt is free at United following Paul Pogba's departure (Image: Alamy)

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.

Advert

"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.

De Jong wears number 21 for Barcelona and the Netherlands (Image: Alamy)
De Jong wears number 21 for Barcelona and the Netherlands (Image: Alamy)

Advert

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.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Manchester United, Football, Premier League, Frenkie De Jong, Transfers, La Liga, Barcelona

Rory O'Callaghan
Rory O'Callaghan

Rory O'Callaghan is Editorial Lead at SPORTbible. He has previously worked for Sky Sports News, MailOnline and Reach covering football, cricket, boxing and MMA. Tested daily as a Liverpool fan in a Manchester office.

X

@rory_ocallaghan

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

9 hours ago
10 hours ago
11 hours ago
12 hours ago
  • 9 hours ago

    Man Utd 'decide' new striker target after accepting defeat in Viktor Gyokeres transfer saga

    Manchester United have another striker on their radar after losing out on Viktor Gyokeres.

    Football
  • 10 hours ago

    Marcus Rashford has made his feelings clear on Harry Kane amid Bayern Munich links to Man Utd outcast

    Marcus Rashford would relish the opportunity to play with Harry Kane judging by his comments about the Bayern Munich star.

    Football
  • 11 hours ago

    Scott McTominay's next Napoli team-mate has already walked out on club

    The player claimed that his former manager called him a 'troublemaker'.

    Football
  • 12 hours ago

    Women's Euros star receives ban for first group match after incident that happened 355 days ago

    A player will have to wait for her first appearance at this year's Women's European Championships following a 2024 incident.

    Football
  • Frenkie de Jong has 'disobeyed Barcelona bosses' as mystery absence takes new twist
  • Frenkie de Jong denies claims he has a insane salary as Barcelona star also disputes that he refused surgery
  • Frenkie de Jong has already named his dream Premier League move amid Liverpool swap deal rumours
  • Barcelona offer five clubs the chance to sign Frenkie de Jong as they look to get his wages off the books