Barcelona have asked Dutch international Frenkie de Jong to reduce his salary, according to reports, and during Barcelona’s pre-season tour, he has not started a single game. This has prompted La Liga president Javier Tebas to share his thoughts on the matter, with coach Xavi also weighing in on the situation.
La Liga President Discusses Frenkie de Jong Situation in Boost for Manchester United
La Liga president Javier Tebas on Barça asking Frenkie de Jong to reduce his salary: "The players cannot be split from the team or pressured – it's what collective agreement, the Law, reason, ethics mark". ⚠️ #FCB
"From there, Barcelona knows the rules and the responsibilities".
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 27, 2022
What La Liga President Javier Tebas Thinks of the Situation
Frenkie de Jong came to Barcelona from Ajax in 2019 for a fee of £73 million and enjoyed a gross salary of around £12 million annually. Now Barcelona’s financial mismanagement has come back to haunt the club, and they are attempting to reduce De Jong’s salary in a bid to keep themselves afloat.
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La Liga president Javier Tebas shared his thoughts on the situation, saying:
“The players cannot be split from the team or pressured – it’s what collective agreement, the law, reason, and ethics mark. From there, Barcelona knows the rules and the responsibilities”.
This is a big boost for the Red Devils. It shows Barcelona that they are not allowed to apply any pressure on the Dutch midfielder in order to make him reduce his wage and that the La Liga president is now aware of the situation. According to reports, the Catalan giants considered leaving De Jong in Spain during their pre-season tour, but this directly contradicts the rules of La Liga.
Stiff Competition for Barcelona Midfielders
The preseason matches have seen several midfielders get solid playing time. Still, De Jong never steps on the pitch as more than a substitute, and when the 25-year-old finally does, he’s usually relegated to a defensive role. However, given the number of great midfielders at Barcelona, the competition is naturally stiff.
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Coach Xavi pointed this out in an interview with The Athletic, while also noting that the team’s financial situation plays a role.
He said: “I don’t send messages. It is possible to adapt. I have spoken with (De Jong) and he knows I value him a lot as a player. He is fundamental for the team’s play. Then there is, I insist, the financial situation of the team. We have a lot of competition for places”.
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Barcelona are contemplating sending Frenkie de Jong out on loan to save all or at least a large part of his salary.
— @sport pic.twitter.com/MxGZLM4rQ3
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) July 28, 2022