Lineker says Barça's De Jong "been treated a bit like a piece of meat"

Former Barcelona striker Gary Lineker says Frenkie de Jong has been "treated like a piece of meat" this summer.

Barça agreed a fee with Manchester United for De Jong, while Chelsea have also shown an interest in the Dutch midfielder.

De Jong has so far resisted offers to leave Camp Nou but has been told by Barça to either leave or reduce his salary.

"I feel for Frenkie a bit," Lineker told reporters. "He’s been treated a bit like a piece of meat in the whole thing for circumstances totally out of his control.

"He’s a gifted young player and it’s very important for him he doesn’t go somewhere he doesn’t want to go. He has the playing cards in his hand in that sense. He will have to be quite strong. It is so weird.

"Barcelona seemingly want him but something has to give and it just seems a shame for it to end up like this."