Barcelona Cut Frenkie De Jong Salary Amid Man Utd Interest

Barcelona are reportedly asking Frenkie De Jong to take another salary cut this summer in order to finance a potential move for Lionel Messi. The Spanish giants must comply with La Liga financial rules if they’re to fund a move for the Paris Saint-Germain attacker, who is keen on a return to the Camp Nou this summer. Messi would have to take a significant paycut on the salary he earns in the French capital in order for the move to be possible. During the pandemic, the likes of De Jong, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Gerard Pique took significant paycuts in order to help the club through the financial turbulence of playing behind closed doors. Barcelona had agreed a deal to sell De Jong to Manchester United last summer, with the Spaniards keen for the Dutchman to move to Old Trafford in a £73m deal. However, De Jong wanted to remain at his ‘dream’ club and he’s revived his career at the Camp Nou by becoming a first team regular under Xavi this term. Mundo Deportivo report that the club want De Jong to take another paycut in order to ease their finances and in return they will extend the Dutchman’s contract, which expires in 2026. It remains to be seen whether De Jong will accept the terms but the issue will be of interest to United, who remain keen on signing the Dutchman. Meanwhile, Messi is expected to leave Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season. The club have the option of extending his deal by a further 12 months but there’s been no appetite from either side to continue the relationship. Messi was fined two weeks’ wages this week for taking an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia and apologised for doing so, claiming he thought he had the day off.