FC Barcelona's worrying doubts about Frenkie de Jong's future

FC Barcelona has launched a 'renewal plan' to secure players considered key players for the club's future and whose contracts end in 2026. While the cases of Pedri, Gavi and even Ronald Araújo have generated some optimism within the club, the situation with Frenkie de Jong is different. The signing of the 27-year-old footballer has raised doubts and the board is not clear that he wants to extend his commitment.

Despite this complicated context, Can Barça will do everything possible to ensure the midfielder's continuity as they value his hierarchy and he has the confidence of Hansi Flick, who sees him in very good technical and physical condition. However, the case of the '21' is being taken with a grain of salt, starting with the fact that, at the moment, he has not yet responded to the proposal made by the club to extend his contract until the end of 2023.

According to 'Mundo Deportivo', the economic offer from the Catalans is lower than what he currently receives, although today De Jong continues to collect the arrears that he deferred during the pandemic during Bartomeu's mandate. Beyond this, the sports management considers that the proposal is still more than attractive and that it is in line with Frenkie's value and weight at Barça and in the market.

Will Frenkie accept the renewal or will he leave as a free agent?

On the other hand, in the offices of the Spotify Camp Nou they are aware that the Dutchman has had a hard time with the leaks about his contract and the harsh criticism he received after being out for five months due to his ankle injury. In fact, the footballer himself came out to deny the same, assuring that he was never recommended to undergo surgery and, on the contrary, agreed with the club to follow a conservative treatment for his physical setback.

For this reason, Barça do not rule out Frenkie deciding not to renew and leaving Barcelona as a free agent when his contract ends in 2026. A scenario that the club does not want to face, since in the event of his departure, they hope to recover the 75 million euros fixed (plus 11 in possible variables) that they invested in his signing in the summer of 2019.

Thus, if De Jong does not accept the renewal offer sent by the club, the Catalans will have as a priority to transfer him in the summer of 2025. The ball will be in the court of the midfielder, who will have to choose between extending his link with the institution or exhausting his contract with the risk of becoming a secondary player in Flick's eyes during his possible last year as a Barça player.