If Manchester United sign Frenkie de Jong he will be a reluctant recruit having told Barcelona he does not want to leave the club this summer.
On the bright side they'll be getting a player who is only 25, who has worked with Erik ten Hag at Ajax, and has shown enough in three years at Barcelona to suggest he can yet become one of Europe's top midfielders.
Xavi wants him to stay and there can be few more convincing votes of confidence for the Dutch international. When De Jong reacted badly to being taken off against Rayo Vallecano last month he went straight down the tunnel without acknowledging his manager but the two had a clear-the-air meeting several days later, with Xavi telling him he had not lost confidence in him and wanted him at the club next season.