Frenkie de Jong finds himself in a difficult situation at FC Barcelona following his return from a lengthy injury absence.
The Dutchman has failed to hit the kind of form expected and as a consequence, has found minutes hard to come by in recent matches.
As such, Barcelona are keen to regain the best form from the Dutchman and help him achieve his full potential on the pitch. The club view him as a crucial player in their quest for titles this season, particularly in La Liga.
Contract offer invalid
However, when it comes to contract renewal, the situation has changed. Indeed, as per Mundo Deportivo, the offer made to De Jong by Barcelona at the end of last year is no longer valid.
Until recently, the Blaugrana had been under the impression that it was up to the player, through his agent, to respond to the proposal. Now, Barcelona are no longer considering that offer as part of their plans.
The La Liga leaders had made a renewal offer to De Jong that would have extended his contract by at least three more years beyond his current deal, which runs until 2026.
What does the future hold for De Jong? (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
This offer did not include any reduction in his current salary, which is higher than it was in his first two seasons at the club, as those years included salary deferrals due to the club’s financial situation following the pandemic.
Internally, the club have not ruled out the possibility that he may choose not to renew and instead allow his contract to run down until 2026, when he would become a free agent. However, this is not considered a certainty, but rather a potential scenario.
For now, no pressure will be applied on the Dutchman, as the club require him to be in top form to help the team compete for every possible title.
As the season progresses, the club will continue to assess his performances, his standing within the team, and whether he will take the initiative to either request a new deal, seek a transfer, or indicate that he intends to see out his contract without renewing.
In any case, the Catalans have set a deadline for the end of the season, when De Jong will be one year from the end of his contract. If no significant developments occur beforehand, the club will revisit his situation.
However, regarding any new renewal offers, everything will start afresh, as the previous offer is no longer valid.