Barcelona signing Frenkie de Jong has admitted he almost signed for Premier League side Tottenham.

De Jong will move to the Camp Nou in the summer after the Catalan giants agreed a €75 million deal with Ajax in January.

Rated as one of the world’s best young midfielders, the Dutchman was chased by Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.

However, speaking exclusively to FourFourTwo, the 21-year-old revealed Spurs made a move for him last summer.

He said: “The moment wasn’t right. I wasn’t finished at Ajax, as I hadn’t yet played a full season in my own position.

“I was also injured in that period, so I was thinking, ‘Not yet’. I felt I should stay for another year at Ajax, or perhaps longer.

“I considered their [Spurs’] offer long and hard. I see Tottenham as a very stable club, and they are only getting better. They give young players a chance and I see Mauricio Pochettino as a manager who really improves young players. I like the kind of football they are playing. I think it would have suited my game.”

After sealing his move to Barcelona, though, De Jong can’t wait to get started for the Blaugrana.

“I’d always wanted to play for Barcelona,” he added. “The money they were prepared to pay Ajax [€75m, rising to €86m] showed me how serious they were. I felt I had to grab the opportunity, because maybe it wouldn’t come around again.

“Of course, [the fee] doesn’t mean I’ll automatically play from the start. But everything about Barcelona is beautiful. My family agreed I had to go for it. I’ll do everything in my power to succeed there.”

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