Frenkie de Jong has denied he earns €37m a year with the Barcelona star also rubbishing claims that he refused to have surgery on his ankle.
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De Jong last played in El Clasico in AprilIs on his way to recovery from an ankle injuryHit out at the media for building false narrativesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
During a La Liga match against Celta Vigo in September 2023, De Jong suffered a serious injury to the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis in his right ankle. This was the beginning of a difficult spell for the midfielder who went on to pick up two more knocks in the same area.
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De Jong made a comeback from the initial setback during a match in March 2024 at San Mames against Athletic Club but suffered a blow on the same ankle. His troubles were further compounded in El Clásico on April 21, 2024, at the Santiago Bernabéu when he clashed with Fede Valverde which aggravated the same ankle injury.
WHAT DE JONG SAID
De Jong addressed rumours that Barcelona had urged him to undergo surgery, which he reportedly refused. The midfielder refuted these claims, explaining that both he and the club mutually agreed to pursue traditional healing methods rather than going under the knife.
“Throughout my recovery I have chosen to stay silent" he explained in an interview with . "It is not true that the club told me I had to have an operation, and I didn't want one. Because everyone at the club, the doctors and myself all agreed that surgery was not the best option. It has been very frustrating for a player who lives and breathes football to be out of action for another lengthy period."
DID YOU KNOW?
De Jong also spoke out against reports that suggest his annual salary at Barcelona is €37 million (£31m/$41), which if true, is a significant burden on the coffers of a club that are struggling for financial stability.
"It is not true that I earn 37 million" he insisted aiming to dispel the circulating misinformation about his contract. "That's a very big figure and is a long way off what I really earn."