Frenkie de Jong SLAMS Barcelona for ‘spreading a lot of lies’
FT Desk
- 16 Oct 2022 14:55 CDT
- 3 min read
Frenkie de Jong has launched a withering attack on Barcelona for “spreading a lot of lies” in regards to his transfer and salary situation.
It is well-known that Barcelona attempted to sell De Jong this past summer, having been in negotiations with Manchester United.
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The Blaugrana allegedly made it clear to De Jong that if he refused a move away from the club then he would have to reduce his salary in order to remain.
The reason for that is because Barcelona needed to raise cash by selling players and lowering their wage bill in order meet La Liga spending requirements, which they eventually did by selling off club assets and shares in their TV deals.
In the end, De Jong refused to join Man Utd and stayed at Barcelona.
De Jong also refused to reduce his salary, with reports that Barcelona even threatened legal action if he doesn’t do so.
The 25-year-old was said to be angry that Barcelona were refusing to pay him €18 million in wages he is owed after he agreed to defer them to help the club through their post-Coronavirus financial crisis.
De Jong has now opened up the situation, with some strong words against his current club.
What did De Jong say?
“There has been a campaign. Look, I never spoke a word myself,” De Jong told Ziggo Sport, in response to reports that De Jong is the highest paid player at Barcelona.
“The club, or the media associated with the club, have spread a lot of lies. A lot is not true.
“In each of the first three years I played here, I cut my salary. So eventually money has to come back and it will drop on your normal salary so of course it will look bigger.
“I think many people don’t understand this and the numbers the media are spreading are fake.”
De Jong has only been a bit-part player for Barcelona this season, being mostly used as a substitute by manager Xavi.
He did, however, start and play the full game on Sunday as Barcelona lost the Clasico 3-1 to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
