The agents representing Frenkie de Jong are urging him to secure the full volume of back payments owed to him by Barcelona amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding his future.
The Catalan club have handed a 10-day deadline for any potential transfer of Dutch international De Jong with both Manchester United and Chelsea pursuing a deal. It comes after United boss Erik ten Hag instructed those above him to remain patient on a deal after holding fresh talks with the player.
While United have an initial fee in place with the Catalan club over a transfer which would reunite De Jong with his former Ajax boss Ten Hag, no final agreement is yet in place for a move. United have not given up hope on a deal to land the Dutch international star despite negotiations now into their 13 th week.
Barca are said to be privately open to De Jong's departure despite their stance of insisting he is not for sale and the understanding from United is that a deal is being held up by outstanding payments owed to the Dutch international.
The central midfielder is one of the highest earners at the Camp Nou and the club also owe him additional payments from amortizations and bonuses linked into his contract, with several deferred salary amounts dating back to the Covid pandemic two years ago.
De Jong is owed a whopping €17million in amortizations and back payments from the club and his future is unlikely to be resolved until that amount is settled one way or the other. Diario Sport outline how the player himself does not prioritise the money but his agents are instructing him to pursue the payments.
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De Jong’s representatives Ali Dursun and Hasan Centikaya met with Barca chiefs on Wednesday while a report from Gerard Romero – the Catalan-based journalist who first broke United’s interest in signing De Jong – has been cited by Diario Sport has outlined multiple further meetings held by the Blaugrana on Wednesday evening.
Andreas Christensen, Franck Kessie, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Jules Kounde have all joined Barca’s ranks this summer, but none will be available for selection until La Liga inform them that their contracts are viable with the club’s financial situation. The same registration issue applies to Ousmane Dembele, who signed a new contract after his previous deal expired.
De Jong recently liked an Instagram post slamming Barcelona’s treatment of him this summer as the club continue to make a series of high-profile signings while he is still contractually owed money. Gary Neville has previously urged De Jong to seek legal advice due to his treatment by the Catalan giants.