Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has criticised a “campaign with lots of lies” regarding his salary amid this summer’s transfer saga linking him with an exit.
De Jong has started just five of Barca’s 12 matches across La Liga and Champions League this season, finding himself behind Pedri, Gavi, Sergio Busquets and new signing Franck Kessie in the pecking order. It comes after Manchester United ’s summer-long pursuit of the Dutchman, which ultimately failed despite the club making a breakthrough in the deal.
United boss Erik ten Hag coached De Jong at Ajax and held a phone call this summer to convince the player that he should join his project at Old Trafford. The Red Devils had an initial transfer fee agreed with Barca valued at £56.2million to sign the midfielder but no agreement could be struck.
Barca’s willingness to sell De Jong stemmed from him being said to be the highest earner in their first-team squad and was widely reported to be owed up to €17million in back payments through deferrals and amortisations. The Catalan club made those arrangements with a number of players through the Covid pandemic – pledging to pay them back at a later stage if they reduced their wages while stadiums were empty and club’s revenues were reduced.
However, De Jong refuted those suggestions of his payment status to ZiggoSport, clarifying: "I don't think I am Barca's best paid player after Messi. There has been a campaign with lot of lies. In each of first 3 years I played here, I cut my salary. So eventually money has to come back and of course it will look bigger".
De Jong’s playing status and earning rank is not ideal for a player who is far from a regular in the side’s strongest XI. However, the player was happy at the club and his life within the Catalan capital, and had no desire to leave.
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Yet the Dutchman’s latest comments follow on from a report in Diario Sport, outlining how Barca were looking to sign another central midfielder in January. This was furthered by comments from club president Joan Laporta, who added: "We are working on the market. We have had talks with the coaching staff and we intend to improve the squad, which is already very powerful but can still improve more.
"We are working with the coach, with the technical secretariat and the director of football for this winter market. We have been analysing things for some time and the team will be improved if we have the chance to do so."
Barca retain an interest in signing Manchester City star Bernardo Silva, with a swap arrangement within their squad between Silva and De Jong suggested over summer – a move that ultimately did not come to pass. Barca boss Xavi Hernandez is a great admirer of the Portugal international and had wanted to add him to his ranks.
