The incident happened during Manchester United’s Europa League tie against Barcelona at Old Trafford on Thursday, as the two teams battled it out for a place in the last 16.
A mass brawl unfolded between Manchester United and Barcelona on Thursday night after an incident involving Frenkie de Jong – a former United transfer target.
The chaos unfolded shortly after the hour mark when Aaron Wan-Bissaka fouled De Jong. As the Netherlands international was on the ground, United’s stand-in skipper Bruno Fernandes smashed the ball at him – which led to a reaction from De Jong’s teammates.
Several United and Barcelona players were involved in the scuffle – including Casemiro, who was sent off following a similar incident during a Premier League game against Crystal Palace earlier this month. There were no red cards handed out on the occasion.
But referee Clement Turpin did book Fernandes and Franck Kessie. The Europa League play-off tie was firmly in the balance at the time, which perhaps explains the brawl.
It was difficult to predict the outcome of this tie ahead of Thursday night’s second leg. The first game at the Camp Nou finished 2-2 after goals from Marcos Alonso, Raphinha, Marcus Rashford and an own goal by Jules Kounde.
LaLiga leaders Barcelona took the lead at Old Trafford when Fernandes conceded a penalty during the first half. Robert Lewandowski converted the spot kick, but only just after David de Gea got a hand to his unconvincing strike.
United responded just seconds after the interval, as Fred scored a lovely strike. Antony was introduced at half-time and repaid Ten Hag by scoring the winner. United will now be regarded as one of the favourites to win the Europa League.
United attempted to sign De Jong, 25, from Barcelona last summer. The Dutchman was coached by Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag during their time together at Eredivisie side Ajax, where they achieved a league and cup double during the 2018/19 season.
De Jong moved to Barcelona in the summer of 2019 and Ten Hag stepped into the Old Trafford hot seat three years later. United agreed a transfer with Barcelona for the midfielder, but he wanted to stay at the Camp Nou to continue playing under Xavi.
The Barcelona manager admitted De Jong could have joined United last summer. He said at the time: “I don’t know what will happen to Frenkie de Jong… He knows what I think and what the club want and need. Of course I’m counting on him, he’s a great player.”
Yet Xavi has always maintained his desire to keep De Jong. “I don’t want Memphis [Depay] or any other player to leave in January,” said the Spaniard at the beginning of the last month’s transfer window. “I think it’s going be a quiet window for us.”
De Jong’s fiancée Mikky Kiemeney annoyed United fans during an Instagram Q&A earlier this month. She was asked whether her partner was coming to Manchester by anonymous follower. She replied, “23-2 I guess [February 23].”
Source: www.mirror.co.uk
