Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has refused to dismiss the prospect of a future move to Manchester United after long-term links to Old Trafford. 

De Jong emerged as manager Erik ten Hag’s top target when he took over last summer and the Catalan giants looked likely to sell him amid their financial troubles – but the Dutchman ended up staying put at the Nou Camp. 

The 26-year-old has made a total of 195 appearances for the LaLiga giants, scoring 19 times and appears to be settled at the club despite plenty of previous speculation tipping him for an exit in the past. 

And when asked about a possible move to another league,’ he replied: ‘Possibly. But I’m very satisfied at Barca. It’s always difficult to say. For now I feel good here.

Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong has failed to shut down a future move to Manchester United 

Erik ten Hag has been a long-term admirer of his former Ajax player and has tried to bring him to Old Trafford

He added: ‘I am in the club where I always wanted to be, where I dreamed.’ 

De Jong has made 10 starts for Barca this season, scoring just once – with an ankle injury keeping him out for two months of the campaign. 

The Dutchman came under fire this month after he was accused of feigning illness to miss Barcelona’s 3-2 defeat against Antwerp, with his agent angrily dismissing the reports as ‘fake news’.

Catalan outlet RAC1 had suggested that the player rang Deco to inform the Barca chief of his status, but the report claims that the Portugal legend was not entirely convinced. 

The 26-year-old insisted he was happy at Barcelona and said it was his ‘dream club’

‘Total fake news,’ his agent Ali Dursun told Dutch outlet De Telegraaf about the claims. ‘It is the biggest nonsense that has been released around Frenkie in a long time. 

‘The player is just sick. He has symptoms of fever and has been unable to travel and play. This boy is a professional through and through. Just a model professional. 

‘Just don’t touch Frenkie’s reputation, because he always delivers. There was no shouting over the phone as claimed, no question marks. 

‘Things are being created now in a false way. The relationship with Deco is simply good and stable.’