Barcelona superstar does not want to leave, closes door on summer exit

Frenkie de Jong has once again become a subject of discussion within the Barcelona channels lately.

As the club face pressure to offload star players this summer in an attempt to free up salary mass, de Jong has emerged as one of the candidates to be sold at the end of the season.

Barcelona-based journalist Gerard Romero recently offered an update on de Jong’s, outlining two possible scenarios, as far as the midfielder’s future is concerned.

De Jong unwilling to leave Barcelona

Frenkie de Jong, though, is not willing to leave Barcelona at the end of the season and would like to continue at the club. This is according to Spanish journalist Santi Ovalle (h/t Carpetas FCB).

Formerly of Ajax, de Jong is one of the most experienced players in the current Barcelona squad despite joining the club in 2019. He has featured in over 200 matches for the Catalans.

Under the leadership of Xavi Hernandez, de Jong has established himself as one of the key performers in the Barcelona setup.

De Jong is keen on staying at Barcelona (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The Dutchman’s experience and technical efficiency in midfield have even made him an indispensable figure in the middle of the park.

What should be Barcelona’s play here?

De Jong’s unwillingness to leave Barcelona could prove to be a dangerous prospect for the club, leaving the board with very few options.

As Romero outlined earlier, Barcelona may be left with two options, one of which could see the Dutchman leaving Camp Nou on a free transfer in 2026 if he does not sign a new deal.

The most logical option for Barcelona right now is to try and convince de Jong to extend his contract on a lower salary.

This could be tricky given the fact that de Jong has emerged as one of the club’s top performers. But considering the risks involved, this may be Barcelona’s best way out.