At a time when almost everyone at Barcelona is elated after the club’s emphatic 5-2 victory over Real Madrid in the Super Cup final, Frenkie de Jong finds himself in a difficult situation.
The midfielder has struggled to re-establish himself as a Barcelona first-team starter since returning from injury.
He has fallen behind players like Pedri, Gavi and Marc Casado in the pecking order, with no more guarantees of prominence in Hansi Flick’s plans.
De Jong seems reluctant to lift the trophy
In light of De Jong’s problems at Barcelona, a video emerged of the club’s title celebration last night where the midfielder appears visibly unmotivated.
While the Barcelona players celebrated in the stadium by parading with the Super Cup trophy, Fermín López approached De Jong and asked him to lift the trophy.
The Dutchman, however, at first seemed abnormally unmotivated and unwilling to lift the title. But after a little push from Fermín, the midfielder lifted the trophy, although also without much desire.
Although it would perhaps be unfair to judge De Jong’s motivation and desire to play for Barcelona based on this video alone, it should be noted that the Dutchman has not seen much action during the Super Cup campaign.
Frenkie de Jong didn’t even want to lift the title. What do I do feeling sorry, I’m an idiot pic.twitter.com/tYrOaepdlK
– Hand (@GxlDePaulinho) January 13, 2025
De Jong did not play a single minute in the final against Real Madrid. He had also not started in the semi-final against Athletic Club, appearing only as a late substitute for Pedri.
A bleak future ahead in Barcelona?
The road ahead for De Jong will surely become more difficult unless someone like Casado or Pedri is injured during the second half of the campaign.
This would eventually lead to talks regarding De Jong’s possible early departure from Barcelona next summer, although it remains to be seen whether or not the player himself would opt for an exit.
Since the Manchester United saga, De Jong’s relationship with the Barcelona board has fallen enormously.
In fact, doubts are hanging over Barça, who fear that the midfielder wants to end his contract and leave the club for free. His contract at the Camp Nou expires in 2026.
Barcelona have approached the Dutchman about renewing his contract but have yet to make any progress, with the player himself repeatedly holding back progress.
With this in mind, it will not be surprising to see the Catalans soon consider offers for De Jong, who has already been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.
From a sporting perspective, it won’t make much sense to retain De Jong, who has struggled to offer Hansi Flick the perfect balance between defense and attack.
Therefore, a summer sale could prove to be the most logical outcome for all parties involved. However, if the midfielder expects a free transfer, Barca could take drastic measures by freezing him for the entire 2025/26 campaign.
The next few months could therefore be critical as Barcelona choose between rebuilding their relationship with the exiled midfielder and paving the way for new players to compete and take his position in the middle of the park.