Prior to the Champions League clash between Napoli and Barcelona tonight, Frenkie de Jong has publicly addressed rumors regarding his future, categorically dismissing them as “fake news”. Talking to media representatives, the midfielder criticized the press for inaccurate reporting, particularly regarding his salary, and expressed his desire to remain at the club for the foreseeable future. “There are a lot of fake news in the press. Some of you should feel ashamed, this has to stop” de Jong asserted, firmly denying the speculated figures about his earnings. “Reports of a €40m salary are very far from what I really earn” he added, clarifying the misinformation about his financial terms with the club.
🔵🔴 Frenkie de Jong: “You are talking a lot about my contract, my situation in the team, and my salary. A lot of smoke, a lot of lies”.
“Reports of €40m salary is very far from what I really earn”. pic.twitter.com/chUibojNn2
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 20, 2024
Barcelona’s coach, Xavi, echoed the midfielder’s sentiments by affirming his happiness and commitment to the team. “Frenkie de Jong has said what he felt in the press conference. I know that he’s happy here at Barça” Xavi stated, supporting de Jong’s intention to stay at Barcelona.
The discussions around de Jong’s situation at Barcelona come at a time when the club faces significant financial scrutiny. La Liga has further tightened Barcelona’s budgetary constraints by reducing its salary cap for next season to €204 million following the January transfer window. This adjustment represents a stark reduction from the cap set in September 2023 of €270 million, and a considerable decrease from last February’s €648 million, underscoring the severe financial challenges Barcelona is navigating.