None of us run to Darren Bent for a reaction to anything that happens at Manchester United, but he says Frenkie de Jong is taking a ‘backward step’ in his career by switching Camp Nou for Old Trafford.

United are close to reaching an agreement with Barcelona but fans still await the first summer arrival, despite the fact Erik ten Hag took training for the first time this week.

While that may put you off reading the rest of this piece, stick around, because it’s truly baffling that someone can work as a radio presenter for a big station and not be educated on the topic they are discussing on air.

Or maybe it’s not because this is the sort of content that drives engagements through the roof.

Speaking on talkSPORT radio, former Premier League striker Bent said: “It’s a surprising one when one you at where Barcelona are, and Manchester United are having a complete rebuild.

“It is surprising, I don’t understand why Barcelona are getting rid of someone of that quality. Do they need the money? He made it clear he wants to stay, he called Barcelona the biggest club in the world.

“He seems happy there. For Frenkie de Jong, next season he’s dropping out of the Champions League into the Europa League. It does seem like a backward step.”

Did he really ask whether Barcelona need the money, despite it being well documented over the past year that the club has been in financial ruin?

Earlier today, Barcelona announced the sale of the 10% stake in its TV rights to private equity firm Sixth Street. It is believed the deal could be worth up to $278 million.

It may be seen as a backward step but Barcelona were nothing special after De Jong joined and they were playing Europa League football last season.

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