In an interview conducted in the Netherlands, the FC Barcelona midfielder made some striking statements…
Frenkie de Jong’s situation remains one of the most challenging issues for FC Barcelona at the moment. The Dutch midfielder continues to struggle to win over the club’s supporters and, more importantly, to convince Hansi Flick, who still doesn’t view him as a key player. At the same time, De Jong earns an enormous salary of over €20 million gross, including bonuses — a sum deemed excessive for a player who isn’t considered crucial, especially at a financially struggling club.
To make matters worse, his contract expires in 2026, and Barça are determined to avoid the risk of losing him on a free transfer. The club’s management has reportedly issued him an ultimatum: either he extends his contract or he will be sold next summer. While his agent has dismissed rumours of a potential move to Saudi Arabia — “The rumours about a transfer to Saudi Arabia are completely absurd. They distract Frenkie (de Jong) from what he truly wants: to shine at the club he loves the most and where he feels at home. And who knows, maybe we (Barça/Frenkie) will stay together even longer…” — the player himself has indeed left the door open for a possible departure
🗣️ Strong Statements
“I must admit that when I signed with Barcelona, I didn’t imagine winning just 1 La Liga title, 1 Copa del Rey, and 1 Spanish Super Cup after four years. I expected at least twice as many trophies, so it’s disappointing. Obstacles you can’t predict arise along the way. People think I want to stay in Barcelona forever because life outside football is so good here, and it is, but that’s less important than what happens on the pitch. If I felt like I couldn’t contribute enough or if the team wasn’t up to par, I would have left,” he said in an interview with VI.
“The renewal of my contract is something that’s discussed in the newspapers, but not by me. I want to play football, and after that, I’ll see what the club wants to do with me, and then I’ll decide what I want to do, along with my agent and family,” the Dutchman added.
So far this season, De Jong has started only twice in 13 appearances for FC Barcelona. A message to interested clubs, perhaps?
