After Barcelona’s dominant 5-0 victory over Valencia in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals, coach Hansi Flick has increased his efforts to push the club’s management to renew the contract of Frenkie de Jong, a key first-team player.
Flick views De Jong as a vital member of his squad, despite the midfielder’s ongoing injury issues, and plans to make him Barcelona’s main defensive midfielder, ahead of Marc Casadó. As a result, securing a contract renewal for De Jong has become a top priority.
However, financial challenges are a major hurdle. De Jong’s current contract includes substantial deferred payments, making the next season the most costly for Barcelona. To address this, the club is looking to offer a long-term deal that restructures his salary to alleviate financial pressure.
While Flick is firmly in favor of De Jong staying, negotiations are proving difficult. De Jong is reportedly reluctant to accept a new deal, having already made financial concessions in past contract talks. With Barcelona still grappling with economic difficulties, reaching an agreement will be a challenging task for the management.
