Frenkie de Jong ‘rejected a blank cheque’ from PSG to join Barcelona as Ajax starlet looks to play through the pain barrier against Real Madrid
- Frenkie de Jong joined Barcelona in a deal worth up to £75million last month
- It is claimed French giants PSG offered him a ‘blank cheque’ to join them instead
- Midfielder De Jong agreed a five-year, £300,000-a-week contract with Barca
- He is fit to face Real Madrid in the Champions League after a muscular injury
Frenkie de Jong turned down the offer of a ‘blank cheque’ from Paris Saint-Germain to seal a dream move to Barcelona in January.
The 21-year-old, who made a £75million switch from Ajax to the Nou Camp, was also wanted by the French giants and Premier League champions Manchester City.
De Jong had appeared set to move to PSG before a late intervention from Barca, but that didn’t stop the Ligue 1 leaders making a desperate attempt to sign him.
Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo say Frenkie de Jong rejected a late offer from PSG
De Jong poses with Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu after joining for £75million
According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, PSG chiefs called De Jong’s agent, Ali Dursun, seven times during his final meeting with Barcelona.
They are said to have offered the midfielder the chance to name his own wages, but he declined in order to play with his idol, Lionel Messi, in Spain.
De Jong had already agreed an incredible £300,000-a-week, five-year contract with Barca, although he will not move until the end of the current season.
He will get the chance to endear himself to Barcelona fans early when Ajax take on Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
De Jong trains on Tuesday ahead of Ajax’s last-16 Champions League clash with Real Madrid
De Jong, pictured against Feyenoord last month, will link up with Barcelona this summer
De Jong has been carrying a muscle injury, but is determined to face Barca’s fierce rivals in the first leg of their last-16 clash.
‘Frenkie is fine, he is happy to play the match,’ Ajax boss Erik ten Hag said.
‘Like all of us, I imagine he will have an extra motivation, but we all have to play a Champions League game against Madrid.
‘Frenkie only wants one thing, which is to close the season well, we have this match with Madrid and he is sure to be 100 per cent motivated to give the best.’
