Having only recently returned from an ankle injury, Frenkie de Jong has avoided major criticism but his performance thus far shows how much of a fluctuating player the 27-year-old can be.
Sought after by many major clubs such as Paris Saint-German and Manchester City due to his impressive performance with Ajax in the 2018/2019 campaign, it was seen as a major triumph when Bartomeu secured the Dutchman’s signature that year.
Destined for greatness, de Jong’s journey with the Catalan giants has been underwhelming at most with him struggling to keep up with his prophesized success. It is for this reason that he was so heavily linked to Manchester United in 2022 where he could’ve reunited with his former coach Ten Hag.
Where does the future lead de Jong
At the time, de Jong shut down those rumors with confidence. Things, however, have seemingly changed and now reports from SPORT state that Barcelona are coming to terms with the prospect of parting ways with the Dutch midfielder, possibly for free.
This comes after reports emerged of Frenkie de Jong putting off his contract renewal and avoiding meetings with director Deco regarding an extended back pay plan despite Flick reportedly considering him a vital cog in the well-oiled machine of the Balugranes.
According to Catalunya Radio, Barca are under the impression that Frenkie’s camp is deliberately attempting to delay the veteran’s contract renewal so that when it expires on June 30, 2026, he can walk away as a free agent.
For a player who was brought in for a hefty fee of €70 million to exit for free is concerning for many reasons but most of all due to its economic implications on an already cash-strapped club.
If de Jong truly sheds the blue and red jersey it will be intriguing to see where he ends up after the dust settles and if he can make an impact there the way he hoped he would at Barcelona.
