According to a recent report from The Athletic, Barcelona are open to selling Frenkie de Jong, with two key factors influencing this decision.
De Jong’s return from a long-term injury has not gone as expected. Despite his much-awaited comeback, De Jong has struggled to find his best form on the pitch, leading to doubts about his physical condition.
It’s understandable that he may not be playing at his peak, especially after enduring a series of injuries.
Adding to this, some fans have expressed their frustration by booing him, while the club has attempted to sell him on a few occasions.
Reasons driving Barcelona away from de Jong
The club’s position is largely driven by two main reasons. One is the financial burden of De Jong’s salary, which has been a significant expense for the club. Selling him could provide Barcelona with much-needed financial relief.
The second reason lies in the strength of his position within the team.
Barcelona feels that De Jong’s role is now well covered by younger players like Marc Casado, Marc Bernal, and even Gavi, making his departure less of a pressing issue for the squad.
Frenkie de Jong is losing his place at Barcelona. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
It must be noted that earlier in 2024, Barcelona extended a renewal offer to De Jong, but the player has yet to respond, and there have been no talks between his representatives and the club.
A lot of rumours
While there have been reports that his salary is around €40 million, club sources have denied these claims, stating that it is lower.
However, he remains one of the highest earners at the club, with a significant portion of his salary being deferred from previous seasons.
When De Jong signed his last contract renewal in 2021, he agreed to take a reduced salary in the first year, with the understanding that this would be compensated in later years.
De Jong is unhappy, but wants to stay
De Jong may feel let down by the club, especially since he made financial concessions to support them during difficult times.
Despite the club’s efforts to sell him when lucrative offers came in, and the media narrative suggesting he was overpaid, he has remained determined to prove his value on the field.
He wants to stay at Barcelona, and his family shares this desire. The club still owes him the deferred payments, and with a contract that runs until 2026, De Jong remains committed to continuing his journey at the club.