Frenkie de Jong slams rumours about his salary, future, and contract extension
Barcelona’s season has not gone according to plan, but they have big goals about how they want to end the campaign, with their sights still set on La Liga, and the Champions League, even though it seems improbable right now.
Their first obstacle will be Napoli in the round of 16 of the UCL, who they will take on tomorrow at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium.
Ahead of the game, Frenkie de Jong spoke to the media as part of Barça’s pre-game press conferences. He has been in the news a lot, recently, with rumours of his potential departure circling the news.
He slammed down all those reports, suggesting that his future lies in the Catalan capital saying, “My future? The truth is that I’m a bit pissed off with what you people [journalists] write in general! A lot of things are coming out that are not true, it’s irritating me.”
De Jong’s salary was also leaked in the media, however, the Dutchman shut down those reports as well, claiming that journalists were ‘inventing’ numbers.
“What you say about my salary is very far from reality. Figures have been invented that are not true. I am very happy at Barça and I hope to continue playing here for many years.
“Everything that is said in the media about my salary and my future are lies. It’s a lot of smoke.
“I know that a lot of things are made up in the media, you write things that are not true. You are doing it in general with a lot of players, coaches even. You can’t do that, you are making things up. Stop this.
“I consider the club to be my teammates, the staff, I’m enjoying it a lot… The media sometimes criticise my level, it doesn’t matter because everyone can have their own opinion. But I don’t accept lies. Don’t lie,” he added.
De Jong was not holding anything back today, which was probably the idea behind him hosting the presser in the first place, despite so much controversy surrounding him.
“I don’t earn €40m per season. That’s not true. This is far form reality.”
He also directly addressed Mundo Deportivo, who asked him about Barcelona’s contract renewal offer made to him recently.
“Lies. You write a lot, don’t you? In Mundo Deportivo, like other outlets, you write things that are lies! Why do you do that? Why do you make things up?”
After clearing all this air about his salary and his future, de Jong moved finally got the chance to speak about the game and Napoli in general.
“Napoli have a lot of quality. It’s been a couple of years since we’ve been at this stage. We’re very excited.”
“We prepare well for all the matches, they are special matches. The coach teaches us everything about the opposition, we’re doing it and we’ll see tomorrow if it goes well. we’re very excited,” De Jong added.
He was asked about which player in particular were Barcelona watching out for, with the Napoli side sufficiently full to the brim with quality.
“Kvaratskhelia is a player to watch out for tomorrow,” he answered.
“Napoli have a very good side. They won Serie A last year.”
Source: Mundo Deportivo
