Barcelona captain runs into trouble with his agent amidst contract renewal talks | OneFootball

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is facing unexpected delays in finalising his new contract, with AS reporting that the holdup is linked to ongoing issues with his long-time agent, Ali Dursun.

Although the Dutchman had agreed in principle to renew with Barça months ago, the contract remains unsigned. The original plan was to wrap up the deal before June 30, giving the club more financial flexibility for the new season.

However, behind-the-scenes complications, mainly involving De Jong’s efforts to formally part ways with Dursun, have brought progress to a standstill.

The idea behind the renewal was to restructure the midfielder’s high-paying contract, originally signed during the Josep Maria Bartomeu era, to ease Barcelona’s wage bill and help the club operate under La Liga’s 1:1 financial rule.

This would have also included addressing several outstanding payments still owed to De Jong.

Change in representation

After months of frustration, De Jong decided to cut ties with Ali Dursun and seek new representation. There were early suggestions that Pini Zahavi could step in, but so far, no official replacement has been confirmed.

Frenkie de Jong is facing problems with his agent. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Dursun, meanwhile, is said to be making the separation difficult, slowing down the transition and blocking the completion of the new deal.

Despite the delay, there is no panic at Barcelona. The club is confident that De Jong remains committed to staying, and both sides have strengthened their relationship over the past year, something that was not always the case.

The midfielder has become one of the leaders in the dressing room, and his willingness to help the club financially has not gone unnoticed.

The new contract will see a reduction in wages, but De Jong is still set to be one of the top earners in the squad.

For the renewal to go through, though, the agent situation must first be resolved. Only then can Barcelona move forward with what they hope will be a key piece in their long-term project.