Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong slams ‘lies’ over salary, future،
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong says he is angry and irritated by the “lies” he says have been reported about his future.
De Jong, 26, has been at the center of various news stories in recent months, claiming he could leave Barca this summer as the Catalan club look to reduce his salary from their wage bill.
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However, the Netherlands international, who has a contract until 2026, insists he remains happy at Barca and lashed out at local media.
“Recently I'm a little angry with what the press writes in general,” De Jong told a news conference ahead of Wednesday's Champions League match against Napoli.
“A lot of things have come out that are not true. I don't understand, people are reporting lies. It irritates me a little.
“For example, [the media] I talk a lot about my contract, my salary etc… it's a lot of smoke, a lot of lies, whether I earn 40 million euros or whatever. It's far from what I earn – I won't say numbers, but we made up a story that isn't true.
“[The media] We need to change what they are doing to many coaches and players, because you are writing things and making things up that are not true.
“I'm really happy at Barça, I've always said that. It's the club of my dreams, I hope I can play here for many more years.”
The pattern of stories is similar to 2022, when Barca were ready to let De Jong leave the club with Manchester United among those interested.
Many stories were published about his salary at the time, with De Jong later complaining that the club's hierarchy was behind the leaks.
Despite all the noise, De Jong says he still enjoys playing for Barca.
“I consider the club, it’s my teammates, the locker room, the people I work with, the staff,” he added.
“It's great, 10/10. I'm having a lot of fun. If people say that I'm not playing well, that I'm not at the level of Barça or whatever, that doesn't bother me, but we have to stop the lies.
“[The media] I write a lot of things that are not true. For what? Why do they invent things? »
Barça coach Xavi Hernández, who has also criticized the media this season and will resign at the end of the campaign, said he understood De Jong's frustrations.
“I totally understand Frenkie,” he said. “Everyone at Barça feels it because a lot of lies are reported. I understand.
“For me he is a fundamental player, for me and for Barça for many years. I know he is happy here and he is very important for my system.”
De Jong joined Barca from Ajax in 2019 for an initial fee of €75 million and went on to make over 200 appearances for the club.
He was speaking ahead of Barca's first Champions League knockout match since 2021, when they play Napoli in the first leg of their last-16 tie this week.
João Félix and Sergi Roberto both return from injury for the match, with Gavi, Alejandro Balde, Marcos Alonso and Ferran Torres the only players still out.
They face a Napoli team that sacked manager Walter Mazzarri on Monday, replacing him with Francesco Calzona.
“Napoli changed coaches 24 hours before the match in a surprising way,” added Xavi. “With the change of coach, we don’t know what will happen in the draw.
“But they are the current Italian champions and a tough opponent. Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are top players, for example, but this is the ideal setting for us to put in a great performance and we are hopeful to reach the quarter-finals.”
