Dutch journalist Van der Kraan has revealed why Barcelona managed to sign De Jong.
Van der Kraan revealed: “De Jong had made his mind up at an early stage. He wanted to go to one club which was Manchester City because they had a manager who he always believed in and who he thinks is one of the best in the world.
“[Netherlands head coach] Ronald Koeman recommended the player to Guardiola saying ‘If you want a great midfielder who can help your team to do the tiki-taka and build it up from the back this is your man’.
“De Jong had a meeting with Guardiola but at that stage it was a bit far away.
“Ajax always gave him permission in the winter time to speak to a few managers including PSG’s Thomas Tuchel.
“But if Man City had not been bothered by their own internal issues – and I’m looking at Financial Fair Play – he would’ve gone there.
“When that was not possible, PSG stepped straight in and wanted him and went up to a fee of €75m and the player agreed terms.
“However, Marc Overmars [Ajax director of football] – the wheeler dealer of Dutch football – knew there was bigger fish in the market and if there was a deal significantly bigger than they’d do that.
“Barcelona came in at the last moment, smashed it by another €15m and Frankie says ‘Okay, I’m off to Barcelona’.”
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