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Frenkie de Jong asked his Dutch team-mate Matthijs de Ligt to join him in Barcelona rather than signing for the giants of the Premier League, Manchester United or Liverpool.
De Jong and De Ligt both helped Ronald Koeman's Dutch side reach the UEFA Nations League final on Thursday with a 3-1 win over England.
De Ligt, 19, was strongly linked to a lucrative summer transfer after a season in which he was captain of Ajax for the Eredivisie title and the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Premier League rivals Man United and Liverpool have both expressed the wish to reach an agreement with the defender, but De Jong wants him to sign for Barcelona.
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"He has to make his own decisions," De Jong said. "Of course, I would like him to come to Barcelona, but we'll see what happens. It's his.
"I do not know, it's his decision, you have to tell him about it but I hope he'll come to Barca.
"Of course, we talk about it [De Ligt signing for Barcelona]. It's not for me to say what he's going to do or what he's thinking.
"I have no influence on his choice, he has to do it alone and with his family."
For its part, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher praised the remarkable "De Ligt", which should leave Ajax for about 60 million pounds this summer.
He told Sky Sports this week: "It's amazing what De Ligt did at age 19. The performances we saw in the Champions League were exceptional.
"But it's not just his ability – there are obviously a lot of great young defenders, teenagers we have seen over the years with talent – but also his leadership qualities.
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"I saw him give a speech at the end of the season on a stage, talking like he was 29, not 19 years old.
"Being captain of Ajax and with them to get to where he came this season, he is clearly a leader and a leading clbad."
Former England defender Carragher added, "It looks like he's 24 or 25 years old. This is a huge benefit for him at a young age.
"There is no guarantee with any player, but you look at De Ligt and, for me, it's almost like a guarantee that he will be a leading player."
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