Yahoo Sports Sources: Barcelona open to selling club captain for €50-60 million
According to a recent update from Fichajes, it has come to light that Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, has made it clear that the club is open to selling Frenkie de Jong if a significant offer, somewhere between €50 million and €60 million, arrives.
De Jong, once considered a top prospect when he joined the club, has struggled to live up to the expectations placed upon him, leading the club’s management to consider his departure.
At 27 years old, the midfielder has found it difficult to establish himself as a key player under coach Hansi Flick.
Failing to make the most
Despite being given numerous opportunities to shine, his performances have often been underwhelming. A notable example came in the Copa del Rey against lower-league side Barbastro, where he started the match but failed to make an impact.
His lacklustre displays have resulted in him being overshadowed by younger teammates like Marc Casado, Fermin Lopez, Gavi, and Pedri, who now seem to be ahead of him in the pecking order.
The player’s lack of confidence and commitment to the team have contributed significantly to Barcelona’s decision to look for a potential buyer.
Financial issues
The situation is further complicated by Barcelona’s ongoing financial challenges and De Jong’s hefty salary, which makes it difficult to find a suitable club willing to meet the asking price.
With his contract running until 2026, De Jong could opt to stay until the end of his deal and leave for free, which would be a financially painful scenario for the club.
To avoid this, Deco and president Joan Laporta have urged De Jong to consider leaving sooner, in order to prevent his market value from continuing to drop and to alleviate some of the pressure on Barcelona’s wage bill.
Barcelona are now hoping to secure a decent transfer fee for De Jong and close this chapter of his career at the club in the coming months.
This move is seen as necessary for both financial reasons and to allow the club to shift focus towards other players who align better with the team’s current strategy.
