De Jong Says Barcelona Tried to Sell Him During Financial Crunch After Signing 2029 Extension

A new interview recounts internal pressure to sell him during the financial crisis, underscoring his insistence on staying.

Overview

Barcelona announced on October 15 that Frenkie de Jong signed a new contract running through June 2029.
In an interview with El País, De Jong said some figures at the club wanted to sell him in 2022 or 2023 to raise money.
He reiterated that he always intended to remain at Barcelona and said a departure would only have been considered if he were fit and not selected by the coach.
De Jong praised manager Hansi Flick for clear ideas, trust in players and accountability in team selection.
He said he seeks fair media coverage rather than loyal defenders in the press and acknowledged frequent descriptions of him as underrated.