Barcelona midfield superstar does not feature in new kit launch

Despite being under contract with Nike and Barcelona, key midfielder Frenkie de Jong did not appear in the promotional video for the club’s new kit.

This morning, Barcelona unveiled their third kit for the 2024/25 season with a promotional video full of symbolism on its social media channels.

The shirt is inspired by the club’s legacy, history, and roots, emphasizing two pillars that define Barça: their style of play and Catalan identity.

The video features a host of legendary players associated with the club, including iconic figures like Ronaldinho, Carles Puyol, Andrés Iniesta, Hristo Stoichkov, and even basketball star Pau Gasol. Additionally, many current first-team players made appearances, both from the men’s and women’s squads.

Who else featured?

Among the men’s team, notable players featured include Alejandro Balde, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, Raphinha, Gavi, Robert Lewandowski, Ronald Araujo, and Fermin Lopez. 

On the women’s side, prominent names like Alexia Putella, Aitana Bonmati, Fridolina Rolfo, Mapi Leon, Vicky Losada, and Ingrid Engen were also present.

Frenkie de Jong could leave Barcelona. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

While Balde, Araujo, Gavi, and Lewandowski are all sponsored by Nike, the same cannot be said for several others. 

Meanwhile, there are also a few players who represent Nike but did not appear in the video, including Joao Cancelo, Sergi Roberto, Frenkie de Jong, and Vitor Roque.

What does de Jong’s absence mean?

De Jong’s absence stands out the most, particularly given his long-standing role with the team. In contrast, Roque has only been with Barcelona for a short time, arriving just six months ago to familiarize himself with the squad, which may explain his lack of visibility. 

The situations of Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Ilkay Gundogan, who are both sponsored by Adidas, make their absence more understandable in this context.

As for De Jong, who will not be available for the pre-season tour, he has been a hot topic during various transfer windows, with many discussions surrounding his potential departure from the club. 

His future remains uncertain, especially as Barcelona are looking to generate funds this summer to manage several important operations. This situation adds another layer of intrigue to the absence of a key player from such a significant promotional event.