The former Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman revealed that he spoke "with Frenkie de Jong and he wants to stay" at the azulgrana club, despite the published reports talking about a possible transfer during this transfer window.
"I have a lot of contact with Frenkie and I know his situation. He said it himself the other day: he wants to stay, his intention is to continue in Barça and nothing else", insisted Koeman about his compatriot this Friday before the start of the Koeman Cup by Fundación Sportium, a charity golf tournament held at the Barcelona Golf Club, in Sant Esteve de Sesrovires, which will allocate the proceeds to the Cruyff Foundation.
Regarding whether Frenkie de Jong could have been one of the names on the table at the meeting on Thursday night led by the azulgrana president, Joan Laporta, and the new owner of Chelsea, Todd Boehly, Koeman considered it "rumors" and added that "Barça has always kept the best" and that "to improve you don't have to sell players like Frenkie".
Memphis Depay and Robert Lewandowski
In his statements to the media, Koeman also referred to another Dutch player who is part of the Barça squad and is not very clear about his future: Memphis Depay. "I consider him a player for Barça, that's why we signed him last summer. For me, it's indisputable that he is for Barça, but it depends on Xavi", he opined.
In addition, he was very clear about the possible arrival of Robert Lewandowski at Barça: "I think the team needs reinforcement, we have known that for a while. Lewandowski is getting older (he will turn 34 in August), but he has shown that he is a goal scorer and to win important things you need people up front who make the difference with goals".
It is also planned that other personalities related to Barça, such as President Joan Laporta, the director of the football area, Mateu Alemany, and Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola, will be present at the Koeman Cup by Sportium.