Frenkie de Jong reveals emotional journey through injury and uncertainty at Barcelona | OneFootball

The FC Barcelona Sporting Department recently completed one of its longest-running operations, as Frenkie de Jong finally renewed his contract until 2029 on Wednesday, following months of negotiations.

The past few years have not been easy for the Dutch midfielder. He endured a serious injury from which he has now fully recovered, and also faced considerable media scrutiny over his salary.

Speaking to El País (via SPORT) after signing his new deal, the 28-year-old opened up about different aspects of his life at the club. De Jong admitted that there were moments when some people within Barcelona wanted him sold, but he was always determined to stay.

“I’ve always been clear that I wanted to stay at Barcelona. I’ve always been happy here — with the team, with playing here. There was a time when the pressure was higher, and there was also a moment when some people at the club wanted to sell me to make money. I think it was in the summer of 2023 or 2022 — I don’t remember exactly.”

He acknowledged that the club’s financial difficulties played a role in those discussions but insisted that his commitment to Barça never wavered.

“The club was going through a difficult financial period, and I was a player with market value. But for me, it was clear — I wanted to stay at Barcelona. I was confident that if I was fit, I would play. It’s always been like that. In the end, when you have a contract, if you decide to stay, you stay. That’s why I wasn’t afraid.”

De Jong also pointed out how FC Barcelona’s unique structure creates a different kind of pressure compared to other top clubs.

“Here, there are elections every five years, so it’s impossible for there not to be politics. There are candidates who want to win votes, and they need the press.”

The Dutch international then reflected on the difficult period he went through during his ankle injury, describing it as one of the most uncertain moments of his career.

“Normally, when you have a hamstring injury, you know it takes between four and six weeks to recover. But in this case, no one could tell me how long I’d be out. I didn’t know if it would be a year or, worse, if I’d need surgery. The first thing I did when I woke up was check how it felt.”

He also spoke about how criticism is part of the football world and shared how his peers view him.

“The good thing about football is that everyone can have their opinion. There are people who think Leo isn’t the best… You can never convince everyone. It’s true that many teammates and coaches have said that, if there’s an underrated player, it’s me.”

When asked about Lamine Yamal and the recent media attention surrounding the young player, De Jong avoided personal commentary and instead focused on his role as a teammate.

“Lamine has to do in his life what he thinks he should do. My responsibility is to help him on the pitch. And there, he does things well.”

Frenkie de Jong has returned to top form since recovering from injury and is once again an essential part of the Barcelona midfield alongside Pedri. His renewal marks a show of trust from both sides and could be the start of an even stronger chapter in his career at the club he calls home.