FC Barcelona are spending big money in 2019 for Frenkie de Jong to join the Catalans from Ajax Amsterdam. In the meantime, however, they want to get rid of the midfielder again - and are attacking their own contracts.
FC Barcelona paid 86 million euros for Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong to Ajax Amsterdam in 2019. The then 22-year-old was considered one of the most exciting young stars in European football at the time. And at first it's going okay, at least alongside superstar Lionel Messi, de Jong works so well in the top-class Barça ensemble from the point of view of the then bosses around President Josep Bartomeu that the contract, which was still valid until 2024, was extended early in October 2020 . And the construction of the deal is so annoying for the clammy club these days that there is now real trouble.
At that time it was obviously about saving money during the pandemic: de Jong's salary for the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons was reduced by 18 million euros in order to then distribute the money over the following years. Apparently, other stars such as the German national goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen signed similar contracts. This now makes the Dutchman an expensive problem: the club urgently needs to save salary volume in order to get the right to play in the domestic league for the expensive newcomers led by superstar Robert Lewandowski. As the portal "The Athletic" reports, the current board around Bartomeu's successor Joan Laporta is putting heavy pressure on their own midfielder - the 25-year-old should return to his original conditions. Or even better: leave the club.
According to "The Athletic", FC Barcelona is said to have asked the player on July 15 to waive money and return to the original contract conditions - otherwise legal action could be taken to have the contract annulled. Because the current club management assumes "criminal acts" in the design of the new contract de Jongs, as the report says. In the letter, the Dutchman is informed that FC Barcelona believe they can open criminal proceedings to clarify what happened in relation to the signing of his contract and who is responsible for the alleged irregularities.
According to "The Athletic", ex-president Bartomeu insists that the deal came about after approval by the lawyers and the Spanish league. Bartomeu said in an interview that he acted "seriously and responsibly". Dutch players' union president Evgeniy Levchenko had hinted that de Jong could be a victim of blackmail. President Laporta denies that.
FC Barcelona is still under great financial pressure: The heavily indebted club may have to sell more club rights in order to be able to register millions of newcomers like world footballer Lewandowski in the Spanish league. Without such a registration, which is only possible if the financial fair play rules are observed, the players will not be allowed on the pitch in the season starting next Friday (August 12). "We've been working on getting everyone registered," said club president Joan Laporta. "But if necessary, we will take action again," he was quoted as saying by the newspaper "La Vanguardia".
The rules of the league are strict, the lack of financial leeway only last year caused the tearful farewell of the club's saint Lionel Messi, forced by financial difficulties. Now everyone is struggling on all fronts to increase the financial scope again. "As of today" Barça could not sign Lewandowski because of financial constraints, league president Javier Tebas said at an event of the Spanish news agency Europa Press in May. "I don't know if they (Frenkie) should sell de Jong or Pedri, but they need to generate income and sell assets." According to his now contested contract, De Jong should earn a good 18 million euros a year.
The pressure on de Jong, who only plays a subordinate role in FC Barcelona's sporting plans, will probably continue to increase. But the player apparently has no ambitions to leave the club or give up money: In June, FC Barcelona and Manchester United had already agreed on a fee totaling around 85 million euros, but the change has not been made yet due to the player's lack of approval did not come about. Meanwhile, Chelsea FC are said to have expressed an interest in De Jong's services.
At the end of July, the Catalan club announced the sale of a 24.5 percent stake in Barça Licensing and Merchandising (BLM) to Socios for 100 million euros. Previously, Barça had already sold a total of 25 percent of the TV rights to the investment company Sixth Street for 25 years. Thanks to the "Espai Barça" ("Barça Square") project, the renovation of the Camp Nou and the entire surrounding club complex, including the Palau Blaugrana sports hall, the club wants to earn an additional 200 million euros a year in the future. The Catalans' stadium will be called Spotify Camp Nou after signing a "strategic partnership" agreement with music streaming leader Spotify.
