Major turnaround – Hansi Flick now pushing Barcelona to renew €45 million-rated heavyweight | OneFootball

Frenkie de Jong’s future at Barcelona has undergone a significant shift, with the Dutch midfielder now emerging as a key figure in the club’s plans.

Not very long ago, the 27-year-old Dutchman appeared to be no longer a prominent member of the team. And with his contract expiring in 2026 and a very high salary, a summer exit was pretty much on the table.

Flick pushes Barcelona to renew De Jong

Now, though, SPORT reports that Barcelona coach Hansi Flick, who has long been an admirer of De Jong, is pushing for the player’s renewal and is eager for the club to make one final effort to secure the midfielder’s future before the end of the season.

Barcelona’s sporting management has been busy over the past month, successfully finalising the renewals of key players such as Ronald Araujo, Gavi, and Pedri, ensuring that the backbone of the team remains intact.

Now, Flick is focused on securing De Jong’s long-term future and has been steadily increasing the player’s prominence within the squad.

When Flick took over at Barcelona, one of his first requests was for De Jong to remain at the club. At that time, the Dutchman was dealing with a difficult period, marked by an ankle injury and a growing distance from the club.

Renewal on the cards? (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

The coach, however, was convinced that De Jong was one of the best midfielders in Europe, and that selling him would weaken the team’s project.

Despite his struggle to find his rhythm and establish himself in the starting lineup, Flick has gradually given him more playing time, with the expectation that he will eventually move ahead of Marc Casado in the team’s midfield for crucial matches.

Fresh talks on the horizon?

De Jong’s contract is set to expire in 2026, and Barcelona have made it clear to him and his representatives that if no agreement is reached by the summer, they will place him on the transfer market.

The midfielder received a contract renewal offer last year, but as he did not respond, the club consider the proposal to have expired. Despite this, Deco, the player’s agent, has maintained contact with the club, and Flick’s role in this process has been pivotal.

Barcelona are now starting afresh with De Jong and understands that the player is prioritising staying at the club above all else. He is comfortable in the city and is beginning to feel more integral to the team.

If he regains a regular starting spot and establishes himself as a key player, this could be decisive in reaching a final agreement. The main issue in the renewal talks is the salary De Jong would receive in the coming season.