In Barcelona, the days when the Blaugranas were rubbing their hands after having managed to scupper the announced transfer of Frenkie de Jong to Paris Saint-Germain in 2019 by paying €75 million (excluding bonuses) to lure him to Spain are a long way off. Today, the 27-year-old Dutch midfielder has clearly become a big stone in the shoe of the Catalans, who were hoping to see him establish himself as a leader. And this situation is only getting worse.
Away from the field since his injury against Real Madrid on April 21, the former Ajax Amsterdam player missed the last Euro 2024 and has not been able to heal his right ankle. Last month, his national coach (and former Barça coach) Ronald Koeman did not hesitate to tackle his former employer, whom he accused of playing with the health of his protégé.
De Jong turns a deaf ear
“He is worried about his injury. (…) He has a significant injury and we have to wait and see how it goes. I wish him good luck and a speedy recovery, but he is not ready to play yet. (…) His club took a risk and now we have to pay the price. I think I know a lot more than you, he has played important games when he was not ready to play.” This Thursday, AS tells us that nothing has really improved.
De Jong is said to have returned from vacation totally out of shape and his right ankle is said to have swollen again. Having recently arrived in Catalonia, Hansi Flick is not expected to be back before the next international break in September. At least. Absent from the field for four months, double what was initially planned, FDJ is also said to be annoying with his attitude, which is said to be very different from the other major injuries suffered by Barça such as Pedri or Gavi. And that’s not all.
Thanks to the lucrative contract negotiated with Josep Maria Bartomeu, Frenkie De Jong has become the highest paid player in FC Barcelona and La Liga with a salary that is now €37 million gross. Still mired in a financial crisis that prevents it from registering several of its players, Barça, through Deco, has tried many times to negotiate an extension with a discounted salary with the Dutch clan. Attempts to which Frenkie De Jong has remained deaf. Atmosphere…
