Barcelona take drastic action: De Jong to be RELEASED

Barcelona are struggling with Frenkie de Jong and are poised to take drastic action over the midfielder.

The midfielder is far from his old level after injury and has not yet won over the club’s supporters this season. Indeed, the Netherlands international was booed by some of the supporters during Tuesday’s 3-0 Champions League win over Brest.

Sport now reports that Barcelona are prepared to let De Jong leave on a free transfer after this season.

The situation around De Jong seems to be getting more and more complex now that his performances after his injury are disappointing and the pressure from outside on him is increasing.

Although Hansi Flick has always expressed his confidence in the 27-year-old playmaker, the midfielder seems to be unable to do any good in the eyes of the supporters. An important cause lies in the contract issues surrounding the midfielder.

The contract problem

De Jong is one of the club’s most expensive players after he extended his contract during the Covid-19 pandemic. Barcelona reportedly still owes De Jong around €35 million. This does not mean that this is his salary, as he himself made clear in an interview. This amount includes his salary, deferred payments and depreciation.

To date, De Jong has shown no indication that he will extend his contract, which runs until mid-2026. Possibly because this involves a salary reduction.

If De Jong were to leave, it would not only give the club financial breathing space, but also free up resources to attract new players.

This puts Barcelona in a difficult position: if he stays, he must extend his contract next summer to maintain his value. Otherwise, the club runs the risk of him leaving for free in 2026. The board is therefore strongly considering letting him go next summer, possibly even on a free transfer, to limit the possible loss.

Barcelona will have to make a decision this summer: will they try to convince De Jong to extend his contract, or will the club actively put him in the shop window to prevent him from leaving for free?

De Jong’s choice will have direct consequences for the future composition of the squad. If the midfielder stays, another big name may have to be sold to make room on the payroll. If he leaves, the club will face the challenge of finding a replacement of the same quality.