The Huge Reason Why Frenkie De Jong Won’t Leave FC Barcelona

Frenkie de Jong has two reasons not to leave FC Barcelona according to MARCA, with one of them economically motivated.

De Jong looked to be on his way out of Camp Nou last summer when The Athletic reported that Barca had accepted an €85 million ($93 million) from Manchester United for his services.

The Dutchman refused to move, citing a lack of Champions League football at Old Trafford and a desire to succeed under his coach Xavi Hernandez as his primary motives.

A year down the line, Manchester City have been mulling over a £90 million ($118 million) coup for De Jong according to The Sun while their crosstown rivals United have again approached Barca to sound out his availability Mundo Deportivo reported.

The Red Devils were allegedly knocked back as neither the club nor De Jong are interested in the potential operation.

According to MARCA, though, De Jong’s motives for continuing to don Blaugrana are different this time round.

In 2022, he was on the outside looking in; benched in favor of youngsters Pedri and Gavi while Sergio Busquets played the deeper pivot role.

Last season, however, De Jong got his head down and fought for his place.

He became a regular alongside Busquets in a four-man midfield, and an “untouchable” that was pivotal in a maiden La Liga triumph for both himself and Xavi, as well as a first for the club in four years.

The fact that De Jong has now won Xavi’s confidence means the 26-year-old wants to march on and repay the tactician’s faith in him.

And while De Jong is an individual that has never seemed motivated by money, with the Premier
PINC
League able to dwarf his Barca wages, there is a financial factor at play here.

In the upcoming 2023/2024 season, De Jong has €28 million ($31.5 million) guaranteed to be coming his way.

This is made up of €18 million ($20.2 million) through the salary he is regularly paid plus amounts deferred during the pandemic, in addition to a bonus of €9.7 million ($11 million).

If he plays at least 60% of Barca matches next term – something pretty much guaranteed with Busquets having now left for Inter Miami – De Jong will be due a further €2 million ($2.2 million) bringing his total earnings to €30 million ($33.6 million).

Even when considering his undoubted quality, De Jong would struggle to make this kind of cash in a single campaign in any other place that is not Saudi Arabia.

With a contract until June 30, 2026, all signs point to De Jong staying for another couple of years minimun, and then possibly penning a long-term extension that will take him well into his thirties.