Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has firmly denied the rumors that he earns €37 million annually. In a sensational interview, De Jong addressed these claims, stating, "It's not true that I earn €37 million ($41.3 million)."
He also refuted allegations that he had refused to undergo surgery for his ankle injury. The Dutch international clarified that his salary is backloaded due to deferred wages agreed upon during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is nowhere near the reported figure of €37 million per year.
De Jong expressed his frustration with the media for spreading false narratives about his earnings and future at Barcelona. He said, "Recently I am a little angry with what the press write in general. A lot of stuff that is not true has come out. I can't understand it, people reporting lies. It's irritating me a little." He emphasized that he remains happy at Barcelona and intends to stay with the club, which he described as the "club of my dreams."
Despite being the highest earner at Barcelona for the 2023/24 season, with an estimated annual salary of €37.5 million, De Jong insists that the actual figures are far from what has been reported.
His high wages are partly due to the deferred payments from the pandemic years. De Jong's contract with Barcelona runs until 2026, and he has made over 200 appearances for the club since joining from Ajax in 2019 for an initial €75 million.
In addition to addressing his salary, De Jong also spoke about the mental challenges he faced due to repeated ankle injuries, describing the experience as "tough." He criticized the media for inventing stories and urged them to stop spreading lies about players and coaches.
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