Frenkie de Jong’s path at Barcelona has been a chronicle of missed opportunities, mounting strain, and a fanbase polarized
between admiration for his technical prowess and exasperation over his apparent deficiencies. https://fandejong.com/
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## The Unachieved Promise: From Ajax Prodigy to Barcelona’s Puzzle
The Dutch midfielder arrived at Camp Nou in 2019 as one of Europe’s extremely desired playmakers, fresh from a Champions League penultimate stage appearance with Ajax that demonstrated his aptitude to control games with poise and foresight. His €75 million signing represented a future investment in a talent equipped of anchoring Barcelona’s central core.
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## The Injury Plague: Catalyst for Discontent
De Jong’s 2023-24 term marked a turning point in fan sentiment. A devastating ankle injury sustained against Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde benched him for six months. His hasty rehabilitation led to persistent relapses, with medical staff advocating for an operation – an option De Jong rejected in favor of conservative therapy.
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## Contractual Impasse: Postponed Salaries and Allegiance Doubted
The center of the conflict lies in De Jong’s salary package – a relic from Josep Maria Bartomeu’s economically reckless administration. To navigate COVID-19 losses, Barcelona postponed €17 million of his earnings, creating a escalating €30 million obligation that compounds through 2026. This payment structure, combined with La Liga’s salary restrictions, restricted the club’s capacity to ratify new recruits.
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## The Derision Episode: Nadir in Player-Supporter Relations
The zenith of animosity occurred on November 26, 2024, during Barcelona’s Champions League encounter against Brest. When substituted in the 88th minute, De Jong was met with mocking jeers and chants of “Fora De Jong!” – a sharp difference to the applause received by Pedri. Manager Hansi Flick’s visible irritation with the crowd emphasized the toxic atmosphere.