Frenkie de Jong: Why Manchester City did not sign Barcelona new boy

City were interested in signing the 21-year-old as a long-term replacement for Fernandinho

Manchester City are said to be relaxed despite missing out on Frenkie de Jong, the Ajax prodigy who is set for a £65m move to Barcelona on Wednesday.

City were interested in signing the 21-year-old De Jong as a long-term replacement for holding midfielder Fernandinho.

However, it is understood that Barcelona were long considered to be the first preference of De Jong, who also attracted interest from Paris Saint-Germain.

City were also reluctant to match the salary and bonus package offered by Barcelona as it would have broken the club’s wage structure.

De Jong will earn in the region of €300,000-a-week (£260,000) at the Nou Camp, having joined for a fee which could rise to approximately £75m.

Pep Guardiola, the City manager, claimed earlier this month that it is difficult for other clubs to compete when the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid enter the market for a player.

“If you are the only one who want players it’s easy. But if you want one and many, many clubs want him it’s more complicated, especially if it’s Madrid or Barcelona,” he said.

“Normally when you are involved with Madrid and Barcelona you are going to lose. You have to be quicker and more efficient.”