Hansi Flick is relying on him to take Dani Olmo’s place, and he has already informed him of this. The pressure from several clubs to prevent FC Barcelona from registering Dani Olmo has not been negatively received by everyone at the club.
Olmo’s absence from Hansi Flick’s starting lineup opens up opportunities for several Barça players, making it easier for them to earn a starting spot.
The Three Players Benefiting from Olmo’s Departure
This includes Gavi and Fermín, but especially Frenkie De Jong, who had been largely overlooked but is now regaining importance.
The Dutch midfielder at Barça has remained unaffected by the external pressures.
Barcelona has been trying to find a way for him to leave Camp Nou for the past two years.
Laporta viewed Frenkie De Jong as the key player to help balance the club’s finances and meet financial fair play requirements. His high salary was one of the largest on the team, and his departure would have alleviated numerous financial issues.
The Second Highest-Paid Player on the Team
Only Robert Lewandowski ($33 million gross) earns more than Frenkie, who is second with $23 million, significantly ahead of the third-highest, Raphinha, who earns $12.5 million.
Flick had already excluded him from his lineups, but Dani Olmo’s situation…
He is reclaiming his lost prominence and could take on the role that Olmo once had at Barça.
In Flick’s system, he had already moved away from his previous pivot position, where Casadó and Pedri have secured their spots, while Marc Bernal, who is recovering from a long-term injury, is expected to return.
The Potential to Play Behind Lewandowski
He was previously considered for attacking midfielder positions held by Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Dani Olmo. Now, Frenkie De Jong emerges as the top candidate to play behind Lewandowski, closer to the goal.
Frenkie De Jong’s contract with FC Barcelona expires on June 30, 2026. While he intends to stay at Barça, he has yet to agree to any of the renewal offers presented to him.
Laporta aimed to extend his contract in order to sell him, preventing him from leaving for free and without generating any revenue. However, Frenkie refuses to accept a reduced renewal offer, and all signs indicate that he plans to depart Barça when his contract expires, not before.
He joined Barça during Bartomeu’s tenure. Now, he has a year and a half to make up for the disappointment his performance has caused among the fans. He arrived six seasons ago under Bartomeu.
Throughout that period, he has appeared in 227 games for the blaugrana, scoring 18 goals and providing 21 assists. While this is modest compared to expectations for one of the most promising midfielders in European football back in 2019, his circumstances have now shifted. Dani Olmo’s situation has created an opportunity for him to secure a starting spot. His time as a substitute is behind him, and it is now up to him to earn the support of the fans.
