Barcelona’s efforts to renew the contract of their star midfielder, Frenkie de Jong, could face complications, according to a report by Luis F Rojo of MARCA.
The Catalan club has already initiated talks to extend the deals of Pedri, Gavi, Ronald Araujo, and De Jong, whose current contracts expire in 2026. However, negotiations with the Dutch international could be more complex.
It is not clear what the specific issues are, but it is thought that De Jong’s representatives are looking for a significant increase in salary. The 24-year-old is currently earning €12 million per year, and he is said to be seeking a significant raise to bring him in line with other top earners at the club.
Barcelona is facing financial difficulties, and they have already negotiated pay cuts with their players due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The club may struggle to meet De Jong’s demands without risking further financial instability.
The report suggests that Barcelona’s directors are aware of the situation and are looking at various options to resolve the issue without destabilizing the team’s salary structure. Any delay in resolving De Jong’s contract situation could leave the club vulnerable to rival clubs seeking to take advantage of the uncertainty.
De Jong has been a key player for Barcelona since joining from Ajax in 2019. He has made 84 appearances for the club, scoring 10 goals and providing 11 assists.
The midfield maestro has been instrumental in Barca’s recent resurgence under coach Ronald Koeman, and the club will be keen to keep him at the Camp Nou for the long term.
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