Frenkie de Jong has reiterated his opposition to Barcelona‘s upcoming match against Villarreal being held in Miami, although he acknowledges that players must perform where instructed.
The Barça midfielder expressed last week his discontent with LaLiga’s choice to move the match to the U.S., pointing out the increased travel burden and recognizing that playing in a neutral location affects the competitive balance.
Barcelona’s president Joan Laporta acknowledged De Jong’s views but stated that expanding into the North American market made the move beneficial for the club.
“Yes, I’m still of the same opinion, and that hasn’t changed,” De Jong said during a Wednesday event where he celebrated signing a new contract with Barca until 2029. “But as players, we ultimately have to play wherever we are told.”
Since 2017, LaLiga has been attempting to relocate a match to the U.S., and after receiving approval from both the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and UEFA, it was confirmed last week that Villarreal’s home game will take place at Hard Rock Stadium on December 20.
If the match proceeds as planned, it will mark the first domestic fixture from one of Europe’s top five leagues to occur on foreign soil.
In the meantime, De Jong has extended his contract with Barça for another three years this week.
Sources indicate to ESPN that his new contract comes with a slight reduction compared to his previous pandemic-era deal, which was structured to assist Barça during a challenging financial period.
– Latvia vs England: How Harry Kane’s record-breaking England legacy compares
– Trump threatens to withdraw World Cup games from Boston over unrest
– Barcelona’s Raphinha discusses allure of lucrative Saudi offer
As his salary has risen once more, the club has been open to offers for the Dutch international, with Manchester United expressing interest in signing him back in 2022.
However, De Jong has consistently declared his desire to remain at Barcelona, stating that the figures regarding his earnings have been exaggerated.
“I won’t disclose my salary, but there’s been a lot of speculation and those numbers have often been overstated,” he stated.
“It was never as reported. This has impacted how some people perceive me because they read in the media that I am the highest-paid player — that’s on you [the media]!”
Having joined from Ajax for €75 million ($86.86 million) in 2019, De Jong is now in his seventh season with Barça, amassing over 250 appearances under five different managers.
Throughout his tenure, he has secured six trophies, including two LaLiga titles, but aims to add a Champions League title to his accolades.
“As a child, I dreamed of playing for Barcelona, and now I am living that dream,” he remarked. “I want to stay as long as I can and win plenty of trophies. I feel great with the club, in the city, and with my teammates and the management.”
“Hopefully, I can reach ten years here [when my contract concludes]. And I aspire to achieve many more things. Of course, I still haven’t won the Champions League at Barcelona, which is a significant goal for us.”