The midfielder was on the Old Trafford team’s agenda last summer
The now Barça manager made his Champions League debut in 1998 against the English team in Manchester (3-3)
Frenkie de Jong, Gerard Hammered and Xavi Hernandez He has had a close relationship with Manchester United, FC Barcelona’s rival in the Europa League play-off round. The Dutch midfielder experienced it last summer with her possible landing at Old Trafford and the defender when she defended the colors of the English team. The coach, for his part, debuted in European competition in the mythical ‘theater of dreams’.
De Jong was a request from coach Erik ten Hag, who had already directed him at Ajax. However, the player was always reluctant to leave the Camp Nou claiming that he wanted to continue in the ranks of FC Barcelona, a team with which he had a contract until June 2026.
De Jong had no doubts last summer: he said ‘no’ to United’s interest in continuing at Xavi’s Barça
| AFP
In the event that De Jong had been transferred to United – the price that Barça asked for was around 75 million – the Barça team I would have gone for Bernardo Silva, Manchester City midfielder who has already assured his intention to leave the Etihad Stadium after five seasons. He is now serving the sixth.
I hammered, course to Manchester
Piqué’s relationship with United lasted for four years, from the 2004-05 season to 2007-08, although in one he acted on loan at Zaragoza (2006-07). The center-back left Barça youth football in the summer of 2004 to return in 2008 for 5 million euros. In this way, he made his life’s dream come true: to play in the Barça first team.
I hammered, in an image of 2004, when ’emigrated’ to Manchester
| Javier Ferrandiz
Piqué, who started playing in the reserve team, he lined up a total of 23 games for United’s first team. He scored two goals, gave an assist and accumulated 1,348 minutes. He debuted, under the orders of Sir Alex Ferguson on October 26, 2004 in a Crewe Alexandra-United (0-3) of the English League Cup. He won a Premier League (2008), a Champions League (2007-08), a Super Cup (2007) and a League Cup (2006).
During his stay at Old Trafford he was loaned to Zaragoza in the summer of 2006 for one season. With the Aragonese team he played as a center back and, on occasions, as a pivot ahead of the defence. In a match against Barça, at La Romareda, he scored a goal.
Xavi made his Champions League debut at Old Trafford
Xavi, for his part, He made his debut in European competition with FC Barcelona in a match against Manchester United (3-3) held at Old Trafford on September 16, 1998. The now Barça coach left in the second half (minute 67) for the Brazilian Giovanni. Barça’s goals were the work of Sony Anderson, Giovanni and Luis Enrique.
Xavi would meet United five more times, all in the Champions League. He also tied the second game (3-3) and the third (0-0). He lost the fourth (1-0) and won the fifth and sixth, the most significant as there were two Champions League finals: that of Rome (2-0) in 2009 and that of London (3-1) in 2011.