Hansi Flick convinces Frenkie de Jong over Barcelona future

At one stage this season it looked all but certain that Frenkie de Jong was playing one of his two final seasons at Barcelona, with the Dutchman out of favour on the pitch, and at loggerheads with the club off it. However Hansi Flick has facilitated a complete U-turn of the situation.

It is only three months ago that de Jong was being whistled by Barcelona fans after a tricky run of form following five months out of action, recovering from an ankle problem. At the time, it seemed likely that he would either run down his contract at the club, or leave in the summer, with Barcelona favouring a sale.

Pablo Gavi: “Upset for not being a starter? No way. People make up a lot. I’ve signed for five years at Barça, and I’ll see them out, it’s the club of my life. As long as I can, I’ll be here. We rotate a lot, and the manager trusts me.” Via @marca

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) March 12, 2025

Yet Flick introduced de Jong back into the starting XI at the beginning of 2025, and now the 27-year-old is playing some of his best football at Barcelona over the six seasons he has been there. After reports of a contract offer for de Jong last week, Sport note that on a sporting level, Flick has convinced him to remain at the club. He now feels like a starter and sees that he is playing his best football.

‘If football was played without fans, he would be the best in the world,’ was a phrase from the Barcelona coaching staff, as cited by Cadena SER. Now the matter will come down to economics: Barcelona have accepted they must pay all of his deferred salary until 2026, and want to extend his contract beyond that, but fit his wages into their salary scale thereafter.

Director of Football Deco has promised to be up front with de Jong and his agents, after years of dealings through backchannels and several attempts to sell him. If they cannot reach a deal regarding the numbers, then Barcelona will still look to sell him this summer, but this is an ending that Flick is keen to avoid ‘at all costs’. Barcelona have also told him that they intend to keep him.