FC Barcelona star ready to leave club after ongoing season

FC Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is reportedly open to leaving the club this summer, as per Esport3.

De Jong's willingness to depart stems from his disappointment with the unfulfilled expectations since his arrival from Ajax in 2019 for a fee of $80 million (€75 million). The 26-year-old had anticipated achieving significant accolades like the Champions League title and being part of a competitive team.

Throughout his nearly five seasons in Catalonia, De Jong has secured each of Spain's three domestic trophies—La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Super Cup—only once each. In European competition, his furthest advancement with Barcelona was to the Champions League quarter-finals. 

The team suffered a devastating 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the 2019/2020 edition and was convincingly beaten by Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 stage the following campaign under Koeman.

Under Xavi Hernandez's management, Barcelona has struggled to progress past the group stage in consecutive attempts. However, they are set to face Napoli in the last 16, with a two-leg fixture scheduled for February 21 and March 12.

In 2022, Manchester United made a £90 million (€85 million) offer for De Jong, but the midfielder declined the move despite being on the Camp Nou bench and falling in the pecking order. He expressed a desire to succeed under Xavi and participate in the Champions League, which Manchester United couldn't provide.

De Jong's contract expires in mid-2026, making the upcoming summer the last opportunity for Barcelona to secure a substantial transfer fee. Financial constraints may prompt president Joan Laporta to consider placing him on the market, alleviating the burden of his high salary.

Currently, De Jong is the highest-paid member of the squad, earning $26.7 million (€24.8 million) this season, $25 million (€23.2 million) next season, and $24.8 million (€23 million) in the final year of his contract.