According to a report from Mirror, it was stated that Barcelona midfielder Frenkie De Jong could be shown the exit door at the end of this season. It is understood that the Catalan club need to reduce their current salary outgoings of €600million to €400m for next season, in order to make new signings and remain under Financial Fair Play Regulations. However, the former Ajax ace has denied taking a pay cut which could see him exit Camp Nou this summer.
De Jong’s Impressive Form For Barcelona So Far This Season
De Jong is having a decent campaign at the Nou Camp as he has managed to put in a run of impressive displays at the heart of Xavi’s midfield. The 25-year-old has made twenty-six appearances for the Catalan club this season, finding the back of the net twice and earning one assist on all fronts.
The Dutch talent has been a consistent performer at the centre of the park based on his average of 1.4 tackles, 1.4 interceptions, 1.2 key passes, and 1.1 dribbles per game in La Liga. He has even been excellent when distributing the ball from midfield after making 90.4% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).
De Jong’s current contract at the Nou Camp is set to run out in the summer of 2026. Hence, any interested club would have to make a big offer if they are to recruit him at the end of this season and Manchester United seem more than capable of doing that.
Should Xavi Convince The Board To Not Sell Him?
De Jong is a solid tackler of the ball and can make a few important interceptions for his team at the centre of the park. He has got the vision to make decisive passes to split the opposition’s defence in the final third and can strike the ball with power and accuracy from long range. The Dutch sensation can also make some intelligent runs with the ball from midfield. He mainly functions as a box-to-box midfielder but can also fill in as a defensive midfielder if needed.
De Jong has what it takes to help Barca reclaim their place in European football and he has been an integral part of Xavi’s midfield department. We can expect de Jong to inject more quality into Xavi’s midfield after Sergio Busquets’ departure at the end of this season.
At 25, De Jong will only get better in the future which makes him an ideal fit for Xavi to build his team around and the Spanish boss has made that known. However, the Barca chiefs are reluctant to keep him at Camp Nou as the Dutch midfielder has increasingly been at odds with the club’s board after last summer’s dramatic transfer saga and especially now that he has denied taking a pay cut.
