The Dutch midfielder came close to joining Manchester United this summer.
Frenkie de Jong has revealed Joan Laporta put him under pressure to leave Barcelona in the summer transfer window.
The Barcelona president had a €75m deal in place with Manchester United for De Jong’s transfer. However, the Dutchman refused to leave Barcelona, insisting he felt more comfortable at Camp Nou.
Speculations in Spanish media suggested De Jong’s decision was influenced by his owed salary of €17m and also United’s absence in the Champions League.
However, the midfielder says he had made up his mind before the “pressure” from Laporta started.
Speaking to Ziggo Sport, he said: “I was calm. I decided in May that I wanted to stay. My opinion has never changed during this entire period. I stayed calm.
“But then you know the pressure would start to come…from the newspapers, from the president, from everywhere. But I wanted to stay at Barca so it never bothered me.”
He added: “I knew that he [Xavi] would play fewer minutes at the beginning of the season. I want to be a starter again. I hope to be against Real Madrid.
“Maybe he [Xavi] has already decided, but normally we don’t know until the day of the game.
“Of course we are disappointed after the game against Inter, but we have to change our state of mind. We have to show that we are still a good team.”
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