Holland international midfielder Nigel de Jong has revealed he wants to retire at AC Milan.
De Jong, 29, was heavily linked with a deadline day move to Manchester United in the summer, but no deal materialised following the arrivals of Ander Herrera, Ángel Di María, Daley Blind, Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo, and Radamel Falcao (on loan from AS Monaco).
Nonetheless, the 29-year-old midfielder, who left Manchester City for Milan in a deal worth up to £5 million in August 2012, is flattered to have been linked with United.
“If many people like him [Van Gaal] respect me and recognise what I am doing, then I can only be proud,” De Jong said.
However, De Jong–having scored in the Rossoneri’s 5-4 win over Parma last weekend–is more than happy to stay in Milan.
“I want to stay at Milan and I repeat that I want to end my career here.
“Milan is a club with a history and an extraordinary tradition – if they cannot finish first then they must always fight to be in the top three.
“I know it is tough, I know that there are many teams as strong and organised as we are, but we have to try.
“At what point will there be a new contract? I know that the club has contacted my agent and there is an appointment for next week.”
N’Zonzi happy at Stoke City
Stoke City midfielder Steven N’Zonzi insists he is happy to have stayed at the Britannia Stadium despite turning in a transfer require in May.
The former France youth international, 25, was the subject of constant speculation for the second consecutive summer, but Stoke ultimately refused to sell their midfield enforcer, and rightly so.
N’Zonzi claims to be fully committed and focused to the Potters’ cause, with manager Mark Hughes likely targeting a top-half finish in the English Premier League this season.
“Of course I’m enjoying myself at Stoke,” N’Zonzi said. “We have a good team and good players.
“It’s still early in the season and I’m sure we will enjoy it more over the next few months. I certainly hope so.
“What happened in the summer is not important. I’m very happy to stay at Stoke, very happy with my team-mates and the fans are really good. That’s all that matters.”
Last weekend’s home defeat to Leicester City has slightly dampened the mood in Stoke-on-Trent following the club’s unprecedented 1-0 win against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium last month.
Can the Potters maintain their 100 percent record away from home when they travel to London to face Queens Park Rangers at the weekend?
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