Frenkie de Jong of FC Barcelona

El Nacional: Barcelona reject €35m bid from Milan for Dutch midfielder

Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images

AC Milan seem to currently be in a phase of exploring various January opportunities, and they made an offer to Barcelona for Frenkie De Jong.

That is according to El Nacional (via Calciomercato.com), who report that the Milan directors presented to Barca’s sporting director Deco should be recorded a proposal of €25m as a fixed fee plus €10m in potential bonuses.

It was an offer rejected for now by the Catalan side, who are asking for at least €45m to sell the Dutchman. De Jong is admired because he can play either in a deeper midfield role – allowing Tijjani Reijnders, his compatriot, to push up – or even a bit further forward himself.

This season, the former Ajax man has made just 16 appearances, only five of which were starts. Barca paid a whopping €85m to sign him from Ajax in 2019, but he does not seem to be a big part of Hansi Flick’s plans.

In fact, the coach has not been satisfied with his performance for some time but yesterday evening – after the 5-1 victory over Real Betis in the Copa del Rey – he said the following: “It was a step forward in the right direction for him, I’m happy he played well.”

There has been talk of De Jong leaving for some time, also thanks to a contract that runs until 30 June 2026 and therefore less than 18 months left to run. The fact Barcelona are trying to make room in the squad to complete new signings could be an important factor.

Tags AC Milan Frenkie De Jong

27 Comments

  1. I find it hard to believe that Milan proposed 35M€ for a player in winter.
    But if we can pay 35M€ in a single go why not go for Ricci then ? Or Frendup if we’re looking for a more relentless type of player and also cheaper.

    1. I also find it pretty hard to believe that we made such an offer let alone barca rejecting it as they both need the cash and space within their squad. Then there is the fact that he has a huge salary on top of it makes this pretty clear to me that this is just a pipe dream of some bewildered journalist.

  2. A bunch of baloney. He’s the highest paid Barcelona player.

    Bondo and Belahyane (if not Benny) will be our Fofana and Reijnders deputies. Remember that.

    1. Only one midfielder could come. There is no way our cheap management would go “crazy” by “splashing out” on TWO midfielders. Even one signing is a stretch as we’ve already “signed” Bennacer.

      1. They don’t even know what they want to play. If it’s 433 then only one of Bondo or Belahyane are not enough.

        If it’s 442 then Bondo can act as Fofana deputy and Bennacer as Reijnders. And Musah… Well, he’s the wild card.

    2. i agree. i hope not, but this sound like the case of “we went for big things and didnt work and that’s why we end up with nothing”.
      It’s kinda like me telling my 6yr kid, if you can out run me in a 1k, i’ll take you to Disney. He can try but even he knows, that isnt happening.
      Same here, they know it wont happen but just for optics they send the bid to create good press.

  3. He has barely played over the last year and a half because of injuries.
    Healthy, he is a top midfielder, especially one that Milan desperately needs who can actually pass from that deep role.
    Based on injury issues ans contract situation, 35 mil is about the right price.

    1. Casadei has been on the bench for two years. Have you actually seen him play a good game for Chelsea?? Guy is getting hype just for being Italian and under 25 years old. Nothing more

  4. He is one of Barça’s highest earners at 18m. Even if we agree terms with Barça he will never agree to take massive paycut. Go for Ricci or Pellegrini and spend that cash on a proper CF.

    1. He barely plays, and is probably aware he’s going to take a cut at any club, plus Barcelona didn’t exactly pay him, they still owe him money

  5. He would the perfect player for us, but it’s not going to happen. He would improve dramatically our build up from the back and complement perfectly Fofana and Rejenders.
    He is also good defensively, he used to play CB.

  6. Barcelona owe that man millions, he’s fully aware he needs to take a pay cut. Would be a good addition but he’s extremely injury prone.

  7. 35 M for not a regular player, LOL
    Go on Ricci, young, regular in serie A, and Italian.
    Change Cardinale, Zlatan and all Director.
    Bring Back Paolo Maldini and Masara

    1. Lol try asking Cairo for Ricci in January. He will not sell for less than 60 million, thus Ricci is another young Italian who will waste away in Torino…

    1. What are you talking about he’s a good player, he’s just injury prone. What’s next you’re going to call Van Basten or Ronaldo frauds because they had serious injury issues? You aren’t the sharpest knife in the drawer are you?

  8. I see so many negative comments on this news, guys Ricci and Fredrup are not on the level of AC Milan they don’t have the technical skills for the top club, and they’ll be lost in this squad. Frenkie De Jong on the other hand has great experience playing on a top level, with technique, vision, and excellent pressing braking skills. I’m all for him great choice.

    1. So you think AC Milan will actually pay his wages or what ? You do realize that De Jong’s annual salary is 19 mil base salary pr. year and then you can add 6 mil on top on that in bonuses. Sounds like a real option for us when our highest paid player is Morata at 8.3 mil pr year gross. Yeah right 😀
      Come on its beyond unreasonable to even think we would even entertain this idea.

  9. People who want Ricci or Frendrup are clueless. They shouldn’t even be mentioned alongside a player like De Jong. This guy is on a whole other level. He is a deep lying midfielder with true vision for the game, which there is none of in all of Serie A right now. He can do it all both in offence and defense, hence why Barca paid top money for him. These kinds of midfielders are extremely rare today, so I understand why Milan try to get him. Far better option than any of the “Serie A proven” options who are mostly just terriers with no skill…

    1. Unfortunately De Jong’s salary with bonuses included on top of it is more than 3 times than what we pay our highest paid player so don’t have the audacity to come here and point fingers at anyone and talk about being clueless.

      1. Another clueless argument here. De Jong earns 19 million a year gross salary. That means he would get around 9 million in Italy. And given his situation, he would surely cut his salary whenever he switches clubs the next time. A contract similarly to Leap on a 7 million including bonuses is not unrealistic.

        It is not clueless to want a player like De Jong.
        That is just sensible football ambition for Milan, and the first time we have seen that under this management. I hope they keep going for De Jong

  10. Ya sure, we’d try to sign a player on 18mil a year…if we have 35mil to blow, how is Ricci not the first name on the list. Frendrup woupd cost even less. If this has merit, we genuinely have the most brainless management in our history rn…

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