BARCELONA, Spain — Erik ten Hag has heaped praise on Frenkie de Jong ahead of Manchester United‘s Europa League tie with Barcelona by saying the midfielder would “make any team stronger.”
United tried and failed to sign De Jong last summer with the Dutchman staying at Barcelona to become a key part of the Spanish side’s resurgence under Xavi Hernandez.
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Sources have told ESPN that Ten Hag has not closed the door on potentially reigniting his interest in the 25-year-old, who is set to line up against United at Camp Nou on Thursday.
“Frenkie is an incredible player and for every club in the whole world he will strengthen the squad because he has a unique quality,” said Ten Hag, who worked with De Jong during his spell in charge of Ajax.
“If you can get him in the squad your team will be stronger. In Spain he became even better. He’s a fantastic player, plays out from the back, he always has time and it was a pleasure to work with him.”
