Ajax youngster Frenkie de Jong has said he will remain at the club this season now they have qualified for the Champions League group stage – but has left the door open for a future move to Barcelona.
Barcelona have been repeatedly linked with the midfielder this summer after he impressed during his 22 Eredivisie outings last season.
However, following Ajax’s 3-1 aggregate win over Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League play-off round, de Jong insists he will remain in Amsterdam, even if it is just for one more season.
He told NOS (via AS): “Maybe someday I’ll join Barcelona, but not this season. I’m staying at Ajax. I think it will be a good year.
“I’d love to play with Ajax against Barcelona. Our squad is good and we deserved to reach the group stage. Now we’re about to find out what we’re capable of in the Champions League.
“It will be my first time [facing those big opponents], but I hope to draw a group with perspective to march on.”
Ajax went into this season having not won a domestic title since the 2013/14 campaign – with PSV Eindhoven having won three of the past four, while arch-rivals Feyenoord won the other.
Since then, Ajax have had four different managers with Frank de Boer, Peter Bosz, Marcel Keizer and now Erik ten Hag taking charge.
The Amsterdam club are currently two points behind leaders PSV – who have a 100 per cent record so far – after three games and face Vitesse Arnhem away in their next game.
Meanwhile Barcelona have won their opening two matches of the La Liga season, beating Alaves and Valladolid without conceding; they next face a home fixture against Huesca this Sunday.
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