Barcelona strongly suspect club captain wants to leave for free upon contract expiry in 2026 | OneFootball

Frenkie de Jong is going through a difficult time this season, having failed to re-establish himself as a first-team after coming back from an injury.

The Dutchman has fallen behind the likes of Pedri and Marc Casado in the pecking order, losing his weight in the team in the process.

In light of de Jong’s struggles, there has been growing uncertainty over his future. This comes even at a time when Barcelona are trying hard to tie the midfielder down to a new contract.

Barcelona’s suspicion on de Jong

According to MARCA, Barcelona suspect that de Jong is clear about running down his contract and then leaving the club as a free agent.

The midfielder’s current contract at Camp Nou expires in 2026. Barcelona are keen on extending this deal and have already given the player an ultimatum.

Will de Jong leave Barcelona for free? (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

However, given de Jong’s lack of prominence in the team, coupled with his poor relationship with the board, it is unlikely the player will renew his contract anytime soon.

Barcelona, to that end, cannot afford a scenario where the Dutchman leaves the club on a free transfer, knowing he is one of the players who can attract a solid valuation in the market.

De Jong has been linked with a move away from Barcelona for the past two years, with a valuation of at least €70 million.

But the player’s value could come down strongly if his poor run continues. Barcelona, therefore, are keen on a new deal.

The Catalans have already proposed their terms: Earn the same salary for the next few years, an offer de Jong has taken too long to respond to.

Therefore, it will be interesting to see how de Jong reacts when he returns from the break. The Dutchman is likely to start in Barcelona’s first game of 2025 when they take on Barbastro in the Copa Del Rey.