Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is once again the topic of debate in the Spanish media following his disappointing display against Real Betis this past weekend.
In fact, as per Albert Masnou of SPORT, the Dutch midfielder is in a ‘guerilla war’ with the Barça board, while his relationship with Deco and Joan Laporta is also strained.
Not fully fit
As per the report, De Jong has not fully recovered from the ankle issues that kept him sidelined for more than five months since 21st April.
Since returning to action in October, the Barcelona captain has featured in matches without making a significant impact. He has never played a full 90 minutes and was even booed by the Montjuic crowd.
The medical team has consistently advised him to undergo surgery to fully address his physical problems, but De Jong repeatedly rejected this option.
The club doctors still believe that surgery was the ideal route for his full recovery, but he remained opposed to the idea and continued to favour a conservative.
All is not well between Barcelona and De Jong. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)
The issue now is that, as he returns to playing, he is unable to perform at the expected level due to the precautions he takes in his daily routine. Not only is he struggling with his physical condition, but he is also failing to meet expectations on the pitch.
Issues with the board
So much so that, the Barcelona board has privately criticised De Jong for his “passive” attitude towards his recovery, which aligns with his current contractual situation.
The Catalans presented him with a contract renewal offer, but have yet to receive a response, leading them to suspect that his intention is to leave the club on a free transfer when his contract expires in 2026.
Meanwhile, De Jong feels hurt by the treatment he has received from the current board, which, it should be noted, sees him as a signing made under former president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
The club’s previous attempts to offload him as well as the leaking of his contract details soured relations, and his on-field performances are not helping to ease the tension.
In the coming months, the situation may become even more complicated. The technical secretariat could look to offload De Jong at the end of this season to save on his wages and generate a transfer fee.
However, De Jong does not want to leave, and any potential offer would have to match his current salary. Additionally, he would likely seek a free transfer to ensure he receives a signing bonus at his next club.
Amidst all this, reports suggest that Hansi Flick wants Barcelona to do everything to retain the 27-year-old, complicating matters further.