Barcelona's patience with one of its most important figures is running out. After months of negotiations and inflexible stances, the club has decided to take action. Deco, the blaugrana sporting director, has been clear with the footballer's entourage: either he renews his contract in the coming weeks or he'll be put on the transfer market and separated from the team.
The situation has caused great discomfort within the board, which had hoped to finalize the contract renewal before the official start of the season. However, the constant delays and the lack of a firm commitment have set off alarms at the top of the club. The blaugrana entity isn't willing to repeat past mistakes and lose a high-value player without receiving proper compensation.
Deco has personally conveyedthat the club can't keep waiting indefinitely; Barcelona's intention is to close the chapter before the end of August. If there's no agreement before that date, the decision will be made to exclude the footballer from upcoming drafts as a pressure measure to force an exit or an immediate renewal.
The decision is made
Although Hansi Flick was counting on him as a key piece for his project, he understands that he can't oppose an institutional decision. The German coach has been informed of the club's stance and has shown understanding, although he doesn't hide his disappointment. He believes the player has an ideal profile for the style he wants to implement at Camp Nou, but he knows he can't build his team around someone who's uncertain.
The player, meanwhile, has kept silent in public, but his entourage leaks that he isn't in a hurry to make a decision. His current contract ends in June 2026, but his salary remains one of the highest on the squad, which makes any attempt at renewal difficult. That is precisely the key to the conflict: the club wants him to lower his salary, but he isn't willing to give up his current terms.
Deco and Laporta, forceful with Flick
Barça has already experienced a similar situation with other players and doesn't want to give in to external pressure again. Deco and Laporta understand they're in a position of strength, since there's still time to negotiate a sale that would bring in a considerable amount of money. The Premier League, with several clubs watching, could be the natural destination in case of a definitive break.
The protagonist of this standoff is none other than Frenkie de Jong, the Dutch midfielder still hasn't signed his renewal and has become the main headache. Despite his tactical importance and proven quality, Barça isn't going to keep giving in to his resistance to lowering his salary. Deco's message is clear: either he renews now or he'll pack his bags.