Barcelona sporting director Deco: 'Frenkie de Jong is not for sale'

The Netherlands international has again been an important player for Xavi's side this season, making 26 appearances in all competitions, scoring twice.

De Jong has two years left to run on his deal at Camp Nou, but there is uncertainty surrounding his future at the club, with a number of clubs, including Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain, said to be interested in his services.

Barcelona's financial problems could lead to them making a big sale this summer, although Deco has said that the club are planning to keep all of their important players, including De Jong.

«The idea is not to sell anyone, on the contrary, to try to strengthen ourselves. We don't need many things, but we don't want to sell. We are counting on everyone,» Deco told Catalunya Radio.

«Frenkie, Pedri, Gavi, [Ronald] Araujo are players for the present and the future. They have contracts and they have to stay for more years. We also have players of competitive age, we want to maintain the balance of the squad.»

Deco also addressed De Jong's recent outburst, with the Dutchman slamming the «lies» surrounding his future.

«What we talk about with the agents we can't make public, I like to keep it internal. About Frenkie, he is human like us. If they say something that is not true, it is normal for him to get angry. He has every right to speak out,» he added.

«I think he is happy. But I understand that they want to win, that's good, that's what we want. The profile of players we want for Barca is those who want to win, not those who want to play