According to reports and the president himself, Barça want midfielder Frenkie de Jong to take a “drastic” salary pay cut if he wants to stay at the club.
President Joan Laporta said this weekend that Barça have no intention of selling the Dutchman. But he also suggests the Catalans want him to reduce his salary.
Marca reckon that if De Jong does continue at the Camp Nou next season he will end up costing the club a total of €40 million.
Laporta therefore considers a salary pay cut “an essential condition” for De Jong to stay. But he knows the midfielder may find it difficult to accept even though he wants to continue.
Fabrizio Romano also seems to think De Jong won’t be too happy to have his wages reduced.
🔄 (DE JONG): Man Utd and Barca still discussing on add-ons and personal terms between the player and club hasn't been discussed yet.
• Salary reduction 'very unlikely' from Frenkie's side.#FCB 🇳🇱
Via (🟢): @FabrizioRomano
— Barça Buzz (@Barca_Buzz) July 3, 2022
One of the last ‘Bartomeu Contracts’
De Jong was one of four Barcelona players to sign a contract extension at Barcelona at the very last day of Bartomeu’s term back in October 2020. He signed his new contract along with Gerard Pique, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Clement Lenglet. The common thing with that contract was – ‘Pay less at first and more after’. Now this payment is due, and it’s a lot more than the new salary structure.
The midfielder said recently he’ll be happy to sign another extension if he was offered to. in an interview with Ziggo Sport in March. “I love living in Barcelona,” he said. “I’d probably sign a six-year contract extension if they’d propose me, yes.”
All of which means that De Jong’s future remains uncertain despite the president’s words on Saturday. There’s no doubt the midfielder wants to stay. But it looks like De Jong will be under a fair bit of pressure to reduce his salary when he returns from his holiday.
