Barcelona are facing a potential repeat of the Ousmane Dembélé departure saga, this time involving Frenkie de Jong, according to El Nacional.
Frenkie de Jong Rejects Pay Cut — Barcelona Fear PSG Repeat
Barcelona’s efforts to extend Frenkie de Jong’s contract — which runs until 2026 — have hit a wall, with the Dutch midfielder reportedly rejecting all offers that involve a reduction to his current salary, the highest at the club.
This mirrors the situation with Ousmane Dembélé, who rejected renewal terms and used a €50 million release clause to secure a high-paying move to Paris Saint-Germain last summer. That deal blindsided Barcelona and caused significant internal frustration, especially due to Dembélé’s exit being influenced by a lucrative offer from Nasser Al-Khelaifi and a direct push from Luis Enrique.
Barcelona now fear that De Jong may already be negotiating with other clubs, possibly even having a verbal agreement in place. The club is determined to avoid another scenario where a key player runs down his contract and leaves on a free, particularly after spending over €85 million to sign De Jong from Ajax in 2019.
PSG Monitoring Again
PSG — who have previously capitalized on Barça’s vulnerabilities by signing Neymar, Messi, and Dembélé — are again reportedly monitoring De Jong’s situation. A free transfer in 2026 would allow them to offer the midfielder a massive signing bonus and salary, in line with their previous recruitment strategy.
This situation places added pressure on President Joan Laporta and Sporting Director Deco, as they must decide whether to sell De Jong this summer, force a renewal, or risk repeating one of the club’s most damaging modern transfer blunders.
