The Dutch starlet was recently confirmed to be joining the Catalan giants from Ajax in the summer in a huge deal, with the 21-year-old set to earn £300,000 a week at the Camp Nou, in a deal which is set to cost the La Liga side up to £74m.
"I don't understand how that works." 路♂
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 25, 2019
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has described the idea of his side winning all four of the competitions they’re involved in this season as a 'fantasy'.
Could they do it? https://t.co/yUPFeTl15V
Former Barca coach Guardiola has warned against such staggering investment in wages at current club City. As quoted by Daily Mail, the Spaniard said: “We try to keep the harmony in the locker room with the wages.
“When you have no balance with that then there is always a problem with the mood in the locker room.”
De Jong became the latest in a list of high-profile targets which City have failed to sign in recent times due to failing to meet their wage demands. Alexis Sanchez, Jorginho and Fred are among the stars to have opted for lucrative moves elsewhere despite City’s interest.
Frenkie de Jong pic.twitter.com/tJH0u7niAP
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) January 24, 2019
Star players such as Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem Sterling’s wages apparently go as high as the £300,000 a week barrier, and Guardiola has insisted that such a hierarchy is important within the club’s wage structure.
“One of the good things that City have done is keeping the balance,” Guardiola added. “The reality is that it’s not just one or two teams paying a lot on wages. There are many.
“Before the rumours were that it was just PSG and Manchester City. That is over. There are many and sometimes we can’t compete with that.
欄 €86 million deal
— Goal UK (@GoalUK) January 24, 2019
螺 €16 million wages
Now how will Frenkie de Jong fit in Barcelona's XI? 樂 | ✍️ @Mark_Doyle11 https://t.co/KXjMiahRrt
“We have to be quicker, faster and don’t get nervous. It’s difficult to buy top, top players at a good price. It’s almost impossible.”
Guardiola has suggested that a solution to the difficulties in the transfer market could be the promotion of young talent through the City ranks but admitted that Saturday’s FA Cup clash with Burnley will not see the inclusion of the academy prospects at his disposal.
The City boss said of the cup tie: “We want to win tomorrow. That’s the only thing I can assure you of. Tomorrow we’re not playing anyone from the academy. Kevin [de Bruyne] increased without the ball [on Wednesday], became more focused. He needs to be more aggressive defensively.”
Guardiola promised a 'strong' team tomorrow and we're going with recalls for both Silvas - but who else will start? Our predicted Man City XI to take on Burnley in the FA Cup: https://t.co/lRIumWJC5p
— City Watch (@City_Watch) January 25, 2019
City host Sean Dyche’s Burnley in the fourth round of the FA Cup at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, looking to complete a successful week which has already seen the Citizens seal their place in the Carabao Cup final.
Source : 90min