Messi’s dad to do deal
Donny’s delight
■ but Ajax will always remain in our heart.”
United fought off a late bid from Tottenham to agree a £40m deal with Ajax on Sunday and Andre says he only wanted to
■ move to Old Trafford. “A lot of clubs were interested, but Donny took this decision himself.”
Van de Beek, 23, has joined up with Van Dijk (both left) with the Holland squad and is believed to have had his medical there.
The Liverpool star says it is great for their national side to have another player in the Premier League. “It it happens and it looks like it, then I give him that wholeheartedly,” said Van Dijk.
“Great for him, great for Dutch football, for the Dutch national team and another great club for an Oranje player.
“The same goes for Nathan Ake who has gone to Manchester City.”
Caretaker Dutch boss Dwight Lodeweges said Van de Beek’s transfer is nearly complete. “I think it’s almost done,” he said. “I think there is still an inspection attached to it and it will take place.”
Koeman after missing the club’s coronavirus tests.
But Barca know that if they punish Messi, 33, they could push the row beyond the point of no return.
Messi is digging in on his stance that he no longer needs to train at a club where he is no longer under contract.
His lawyers say that a well-documented clause allowed him to go for nothing if he asked by June 10 – but that the date is now irrelevant because of the coronavirus.
Without a Covid test he will not be able to train with his team-mates.
Barca have the support of La Liga who maintain Messi’s contract, which has a year left to run, is still enforceable with that £623m buyout clause.
Messi’s cousin, Maximiliano Biancucchi Cuccittini, has urged Barca to allow him to head to Manchester for a reunion with Pep Guardiola.
Cuccittini said: “If he was happy at Barcelona, he would have stayed.
“Of all the teams that have been suggested, I feel that Manchester City would be a good fit.”