ELast Tuesday, in the run-up to Barcelona’s important match against Naples, Frenkie de Jong surprised everyone with his words at the press conference against the media. “Why are you lying, aren’t you ashamed?” said the Dutchman at the first moments of his speech. I wanted to release it after a lot of information that has come out in recent days. Kound supported him in other statements at the conclusion of the Naples match: “Yes, the Press tells lies.”
De Jong explodes with the press: “Everything you are saying is irritating me”
And he is right. Many things have been said about De Jong for a long time, specifically since two years ago the club began to consider the idea of a possible sale, and some of them are not true, especially when it comes to his salary. Let’s review these questions that the fan asks:
Is it true that De Jong earns 40 million a year as has been published?
Is not true. In no season has the footballer even come close to reaching that amount. For this season and next, De Jong has a fixed salary of 18/19 million gross per year plus variables for games played and titles won. In his contract, there are also some bonuses that he receives in some season. One of them, the largest of all, is nine million.
Did De Jong take advantage of Barcelona’s bad economic situation to get a better contract?
The first thing De Jong did was defer part of his transfer, as Josep Maria Bartomeu requested at the time. That is, a favor to Bara. And it was a considerable reduction. Then his salary was 12 million annually. In one season he collected only three and in the next nine. The 12 million that he deferred, a very important amount, was collected in the last two seasons that he had in his previous contract. Then Bartomeu renewed him for two more years in which his record rose from 12 to 18.
Joan Laporta and Deco.
Is it true that Barcelona wanted to sell De Jong in previous markets?
Yes, it was an idea that the Sports Directorate was considering. The club’s financial problems were enormous and the expenses incurred by De Jong with his signing, deferrals, bonuses and amortization were among the highest in the squad. However, in the end the sale did not take place due to the direct intervention of the president.
Do you want to sell Barcelona now to De Jong?
At first, no. Barcelona wants to extend its commitment for three more seasons, until 2029, and that is why it has made a formal renewal offer. A proposal that does not improve the footballer’s current income since they consider that they are within what the market dictates. But they are also clear that if he does not renew, the ideal would be a sale that would relieve the treasury and, above all, that 2026 does not arrive and the player leaves for free.
De Jong sees a yellow card in the match against Naples.
What has De Jong responded to the renewal offer?
So far, and although it was presented before the Christmas holidays, there has been no response.
Why hasn’t De Jong responded?
First of all because it is your right. And taking into account that his contract ends in more than two years, he has time, although that is something he must communicate and he did not do so even though he was questioned about this renewal offer in his last press conference.
Does De Jong want to leave or stay?
“I am very happy at Barcelona, it is the club of my dreams and I hope to continue playing here for many years,” are the words of De Jong himself at the press conference last Tuesday. There is no reason not to believe him. Therefore it seems clear that he wants to continue at this club.
