Recent analysis available through 12BET Mobile shows that Barcelona have fallen into a deep decline over the past several seasons, with serious problems affecting both their performances and financial stability. The Catalan club currently sit eight points behind Real Madrid in La Liga, leaving their title hopes hanging by a thread. Although Barcelona have reached the knockout stage of the Champions League, their inconsistent form makes a long run in the competition difficult to imagine.
One of the most important players in the current squad is 26-year-old Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong. Since arriving from Ajax, he has remained a central figure in Barcelona’s midfield. After recovering from an ankle injury this season, he has featured in every available match and continued to produce reliable performances. De Jong is a versatile midfielder who contributes in both attack and defense, while his ability to control possession and distribute the ball is widely regarded as world class. Every Barcelona coach he has worked under has praised his ability, and the player has repeatedly expressed his desire to remain at the club for many years.
The main obstacle is his salary. Financial details reviewed through 12BET Mobile place his gross annual earnings at approximately EUR37.5 million, making him one of Barcelona’s highest-paid players. This figure is largely the result of a deferred-payment agreement created when the club was attempting to ease its earlier financial difficulties. His basic salary was temporarily reduced to around EUR3 million, with the remaining amount scheduled to be paid during the later years of his contract.
Barcelona have offered De Jong a new deal that would require him to accept a salary reduction. However, the midfielder reportedly wants the club to honor every part of his existing agreement before discussing another contract. From his perspective, he accepted delayed payments when Barcelona needed help, so he sees little reason to surrender money he is contractually owed.
The club cannot simply allow De Jong to reach the end of his contract and leave on a free transfer. Selling him for a reduced fee next summer would also be an unacceptable outcome. He remains one of Barcelona’s most valuable assets, with an estimated market value of around EUR80 million. Losing such a player without receiving a major transfer fee would only deepen the club’s financial problems.
If contract negotiations fail, Barcelona are therefore expected to consider selling De Jong for a substantial fee during the summer transfer window. Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester City have all shown interest. United may have a particular advantage because of De Jong’s previous relationship with Erik ten Hag, who coached him during his successful period at Ajax.
Barcelona would need to sign a replacement if De Jong left because their squad currently lacks sufficient midfield depth. Finding an affordable player capable of performing at the required level is easier said than done. One possible solution is Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot, a French international who developed in the Paris Saint-Germain academy.
Rabiot can operate as either a central midfielder or a defensive midfielder. His passing and ability to organize possession may not match De Jong’s strengths, but he offers greater defensive presence and physical control in the middle of the pitch. Barcelona considered signing Rabiot in the past, when both he and De Jong were reportedly among the club’s midfield targets. Rabiot eventually joined Juventus, but his current contract is set to expire this summer.
Juventus want to retain the French midfielder, although negotiations have made little progress. Following the end of an Italian tax benefit that previously reduced costs for clubs employing foreign players, maintaining Rabiot’s current salary could raise Juventus’ total annual expense to approximately EUR20 million. That financial burden has made a renewal far more complicated.
Several major European clubs are watching the situation closely. Bayern Munich have been linked with Rabiot, while Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, and Newcastle United are also believed to be considering a free-transfer move. Barcelona now appear ready to throw their hat into the ring and compete for his signature.
For those assessing Barcelona’s summer strategy through 12BET Mobile, selling De Jong for a high fee and signing Rabiot without a transfer payment could significantly reduce the club’s financial pressure. The money raised from De Jong’s departure could then be used to strengthen other weak positions across the squad. Although Rabiot would not provide an identical style of play, the deal could allow Barcelona to improve their financial position while securing an experienced midfielder, effectively killing two birds with one stone.