De Jong’s future at FC Barcelona has been making the news for months. The situation has been changing until now when a renewal seems to be the chosen option. The Dutchman seems to have already decided that he wants to stay at the club, but the renewal has not yet been signed and temptation is knocking at the door.
Both he and those around him have already rejected the possibility of leaving for Saudi Arabia this summer, ruling out the interest of Al Ittihad, who were willing to put a lot of money on the table. Now, everything is focused on the negotiations to extend the contract.
A summit with De Jong’s agent was expected this week, but has not yet taken place, although there are constant contacts. It is not an easy financial negotiation, but it helps that the Dutchman has decided to continue at Barça come what may.
Barça’s sporting director, Deco, met with the Dutchman’s agent, Ali Dursun, on February 19th and presented him with a new renewal proposal. According to Diario Sport a few days ago, the offer was for three seasons, but without an increase in the player’s current salary.
It is a matter of time before an agreement is reached that is favorable for both parties. Flick has also now asked the club to make an effort to reach an agreement with the Dutchman, whose contract ends in 2026. The player is untouchable for the German coach for obvious reasons.
You only have to look at the great game he played against Borussia to see why he has earned the renewal. The Dutch midfielder once again dominated Barça’s build-up play and was practically perfect, with 62 successful passes and only two failures. The Dutchman once again formed a spectacular partnership with Pedri in the midfield. Between the two of them they made 147 interventions, successfully completing 124 of the 132 passes they attempted and winning 10 out of 11 duels.