Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has admitted he would be willing Leaves “His dream club” under certain circumstances.
The divisive Dutchman has been greeted with boos and whistles during his recent matches by an increasingly aggravated Catalan fanbase. After arriving from Ajax for €75m (£62m) as one of… The best midfielders in the worldDe Jong struggled to replicate his unique style of playing for a new team in a new country.
The 27-year-old played under six different managers over five-and-a-half seasons, with the demands placed on him changing after each appointment. Hansi Flick, Barcelona's current manager, has only been able to call up De Jong intermittently for fear of worsening the problem. Serious ankle injury Which made the player think about early retirement.
As the January transfer window opens, there has been growing speculation about De Jong's future. while His agent And flake dick They had their opinion On this matter, the player himself expressed his own opinions.
De Jong told the Dutch newspaper: “People think I want to stay at Barcelona forever, because life outside football is very good here, and it is good, but it is still less important than what happens on the pitch.” International football. “If I feel like I can't contribute enough, or if the team can't compete, I will leave.”
De Jong has come under scrutiny largely because his large contract does not reflect the impact he has been able to make in recent years. Academy midfielder Marc Bernal, who suffered an injury Season-ending knee injury in AugustHe played more minutes in the Spanish League than his Dutch colleague this season.
Barcelona are reportedly trapped in Contractual confrontation With De Jong, who has so far refused to sign a new contract with lower wages. The club are so keen to get the midfielder's wages – thought to be in the region of £300,000 per week – off their books, that they will accept a cut-price transfer fee.
De Jong, who has a deal with Barcelona Until 2026, completely unfazed. He shrugged his shoulders and said: “Renewing my contract is a topic for the newspapers here, but it is not for me.” “I want to play football and then I will see what the club wants to do with me and then I will decide what I want to do with my agent and my family.”
One topic that has bothered De Jong is the size of his trophy cabinet. The Dutch champion joined Ajax Lionel Messi– An inspiring Barcelona team that has won four of the past five La Liga titles, four domestic cups and the 2015 UEFA Champions League. As the financial collapse caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic affected Barcelona more than any other club, major trophies were not forthcoming. imminent in recent years.
He added: “I must admit that when I signed for Barcelona, I did not imagine that I would win the Spanish League title once, the Copa del Rey once, and the Spanish Super Cup once after four years.” De Jong inhale. “I was expecting at least double that, so I'm disappointed. Things happen outside the home and you can't predict them.”