Barcelona to ‘look after’ 25-year-old midfielder after mistreatment in the summer

Frenkie de Jong was one of the most sought-after commodities in the transfer market in the summer when Barcelona tried to force him out of the club in an attempt to generate some much-needed revenue.

The midfielder, though, never wanted to leave Camp Nou and was firm on fighting for his place in the side. He was also distraught with the club’s treatment towards him.

Fast forward to the halfway point of the campaign, and the tables have completely turned. From being an unwanted prospect for the first team, the Dutchman has become one of the most crucial players in the Barcelona project under Xavi Hernandez.

In light of this turnaround, Barcelona now consider de Jong as non-transferrable. They believe the midfielder may have a key role to play in the club’s future, especially with Sergio Busquets leaving the club at the end of the season.

As such, Barcelona are ready to take measures to woo the Dutchman, knowing the player is still heavily disappointed with the way how the club treated him in the summer, reports Diario SPORT.

The report suggests Barça want to back de Jong by no longer asking for a wage reduction. The former Ajax starlet, after all, is one of the highest-paid players in the squad, which was a driving factor behind the club’s desire to offload him in the summer.

Naturally, Barça have attempted to hold talks with de Jong over a salary reduction in order to help balance the books. But with the Dutchman becoming an integral part of the Barcelona midfield, the Catalans are not expected to ask for any reduction.

De Jong’s current contract at Camp Nou expires in the summer of 2026. With Gerard Pique retiring and Busquets expected to leave at the end of the season, Barça might just generate enough space in the salary budget to accommodate the Dutchman for the foreseeable future.