Dirty games behind the scenes! Shocking details emerge on how Barcelona tried to force out their star
Fresh details have surfaced regarding the fierce transfer saga of 2022, when Barcelona tried everything to part ways with Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
Details: According to Mundo Deportivo, the Catalan giants attempted to push De Jong out of the club in the summer of 2022 amid severe financial difficulties. It is claimed that Barcelona's management went as far as asking journalists to publish the midfielder's salary figures in order to mount public pressure and help force a move to the Premier League.
At the time, Premier League side Manchester United, then managed by De Jong's former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag, pushed hard to sign the midfielder in a deal reported to be worth up to €85 million including bonuses. Barcelona were eager to offload his wages and cash in on the transfer fee to ease their financial strain.
However, Frenkie de Jong stood his ground and flatly refused to leave Camp Nou. Despite the intense media scrutiny surrounding his contract and the club's pressure to either depart or accept a pay cut, the Dutchman insisted on staying in Catalonia.
It is worth noting that De Jong's determination paid off in the long run: he remained a key figure in Barcelona's midfield, was later chosen as one of the team's captains, and in October 2025 signed a contract extension keeping him at the club until June 2029.
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Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
