De Jong ‘TRAUMA’: Barcelona star reponds to €37m claim

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has opened up on the “mental trauma” of repeated ankle injuries.

The Dutchman signed from Ajax in 2019 for €75 million and has just over 18 months to run on his contract with the La Liga giants.

Now De Jong has spoken of a “tough” period while he refuted reports that he earns €37 million and knocked back the chance of surgery.

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The 27-year-old has not played since April, his third ankle injury of that season. He missed Euro 2024 with the Netherlands and the start of this campaign.

De Jong is now back in training and believed to be close to a return to game time.

“It’s been a tough process because playing football is what I love most, it’s been my life,” De Jong to Barcelona’s official site. It’s my passion. When you can’t play big games, when you miss the Euros and many games with Barça, it’s really hard, really difficult.

“Every day you get up, looking at the ankle, seeing how it is. Having three injuries to the same ankle caused me a bit of mental trauma, but I am gradually regaining my confidence to kick the ball hard and go strong into tackles. Hopefully, it’s not long now until I am back.”

De Jong denies surgery claims

Reports surfaced which criticised him for turning down the chance to have surgery on his ankle when it was the best option to him, something which he has denied.

He also rejected the notion that his deferred wages from the COVID-19 pandemic is anywhere near €37m annually.

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“I understand the frustrations because throughout my recovery I have chosen to stay silent. But then things come out that are not true, like I don’t want surgery, that I earn loads of money, as much as €37m. That’s a very big figure and is a long way off what I really earn.

“And then people are talking a lot about whether I have to have surgery. It is not true that the club told me I had to have an operation and I didn’t want one.

“Everyone at the club, the doctors and myself all agreed that surgery was not the best option. It has been very frustrating for a player who lives and breathes football to be out of action for a lengthy period.”