Marc-Andre ter Stegen, the goalkeeper for Barcelona, has shared how he spoke with Frenkie de Jong last summer and urged him to turn down a transfer to Manchester United.

De Jong was Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag's top target, and the two had previously collaborated at Ajax. Man United spent months in negotiations with Barcelona to try and secure a deal for De Jong.

De Jong's unpaid wages, however, complicated the deal, and the argument over who should pay them ultimately caused the transfer to fail.

Speaking ahead of Barcelona’s Europa League clash with Manchester United on Thursday, Ter Stegen told The Times: “I was hoping he [De Jong] would stay because this is the type of player I want to have in my team."

“There were many rumours, discussions, and whatever, but I’m just happy that he’s here, and I don’t want him to leave."

“I want to be very clear; when I talked to him, I tried to make him stay." One day I will just put him in something here [he pretends to tie a rope around a chair leg] to keep him here forever. I hope he’ll be here for a long time.