Why Barcelona vs. Man United is the Frenkie de Jong game9:06 AM ETRob DawsonSam MarsdenIt's a question that's been asked so often since the summer transfer window, but at least this time Frenkie de Jong's girlfriend, Mikky Kiemeney, had an answer. After a summer of speculation about De Jong possibly moving to Manchester United, she was asked during an Instagram Q&A, "When's Frenkie coming to Manchester? " Her tongue-in-cheek answer -- "23-2, I guess" -- was a reference to Barcelona's Europa League tie with United, which kicks off at Camp Nou on Thursday before the return leg at Old Trafford on Feb.

There is not much he cannot do, although in an interview with ESPN he spoke about a desire to keep improving. "I think I can improve my long-range passing a lot, " he said. "I can score more goals. I don't think it's the most important thing as a midfielder, especially with my style of playing, but I can score more goals. I can improve my long-range shooting, going behind the defence, runs behind the defence. "De Jong's performances should not come as a surprise, either. He was stellar in Ajax's Champions League semifinal run in 2019 and is always the best player for the Netherlands, but after over three years at Camp Nou, questions were being asked.

Xavi never named names, but he did say there were players who didn't understand what he was teaching. "[The players] were not working on positional play, and we defend differently to the way they did under the previous coach, " he said in December 2021. "We don't understand the way we want to play football. It's strange that there are Barca players that don't understand positional play. "De Jong was regularly taken off early in games, which led to the conclusion last summer that, for that right transfer fee, he could be considered surplus at Camp Nou. For his part, Xavi voiced support for the player but never ruled out an exit. "There is the sporting situation and the financial situation, " was his go-to line when asked about De Jong.

De Jong was a favourite under Koeman and while the dismissal of his Dutch compatriot -- who was fired in October 2021 after a dismal start to the season -- could have been viewed as a negative, the appointment of Xavi Hernandez allowed a positive spin, too. Xavi was one of Barca's best-ever midfielders and was viewed as a coach who could take De Jong's game to the next level. However, there were teething problems -- not just for De Jong but for other players as well.

Meanwhile, Barca president Joan Laporta courted interest from United and, even though Laporta will deny it now, sources at the time confirmed to ESPN that Barca would have been prepared to transfer De Jong out to Old Trafford for a fee around €85 million. As well as the cash boost from such a fee, Barca would also have been free of De Jong's wage, which is one of the highest in the squad and increases each year because of a deferral agreement signed when he renewed to help the club cut spending in the short term.

Perhaps the best sight of De Jong is him galloping forward with the ball when space opens ahead of him, his opponents unable to keep up, but there are technical details as well. His subtle chipped pass for Robert Lewandowski against Villarreal at the weekend deserved a goal. He's ferocious in Barca's high press and has the energy to get back to defend counter-attacks, too. play1:35How 'intimidating' Ten Hag is bringing back Man United's fear factorMark Ogden and Luis Miguel Echegaray explain how Erik ten Hag's managerial presence is finally helping Manchester United back to the top. In many ways, De Jong is a modern version of a box-to-box midfielder in Barcelona's setup.

-- DawsonWill De Jong be a critical player in these Europa League clashes? This week, De Jong faces the club he could have joined last summer as one of Barca's most in-form players. Xavi has recently switched from a 4-3-3 formation to more of a 4-4-2, with midfielder Gavi acting as a false left winger to create superiority in the middle of the pitch. The change has brought the best out of De Jong. With Busquets beside him -- although the Barca captain is a major doubt for the United tie with an ankle sprain -- he has the liberty to attack without the fear of leaving space behind him. In Gavi and Pedri, he has two of the best young midfielders in the world to link with, and as a result he has played a major part in Barca's 16-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

Some of De Jong's best qualities are not suited to being at the base of a midfield three, though, and several of his coaches have made that point at Ajax and at Barca. While still in charge of Ajax, Ten Hag said De Jong "leaves the middle of the pitch too often [to be the sole defensive midfielder]. " He said if you don't give him the freedom to get forward, you don't get the best out of him. Ronald Koeman, who managed Barcelona in 2020-21, agreed, and some of De Jong's standout Barca performances, like the 2021 Copa del Rey final, came when he was encouraged to gamble and get into the box. He scored in that final, and it looked as if his Camp Nou career was finally taking off.

After sticking to his guns and staying last summer, he was a substitute in three of the first four league games this season. It is now unthinkable that he would be left on the bench, unless he's being rested. Heading into Thursday, De Jong has played 90 minutes in each of Barca's past five games, and United -- Ten Hag especially -- won't need any reminders of the threat he carries. -- MarsdenWill Man United try again this coming summer? United's priority heading into the summer transfer window is to sign a high-level striker, but Ten Hag's stance on De Jong is that the door "isn't closed. "From United's point of view, much will depend on Barcelona's financial situation and whether De Jong wants to move to Old Trafford, but Ten Hag still believes that the 25-year-old is one of the best midfielders in the world -- particularly because of his passing ability -- and that he would complement what Ten Hag already has in the squad.

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