Barcelona want to annul Frenkie de Jong’s contract due to ‘criminality’

Barcelona have warned Frenkie de Jong that they wish to annul his current contract with the club due to alleged criminality in the terms agreed in the deal made by the previous board.

The Athletic report Barcelona informed De Jong last month that they had ‘found evidence of criminal actions’ over the signing of the deal which extended his stay at the Camp Nou until 2026.

That agreement saw the midfielder reduce his salary from 2020-22, with €18m (£15.2m) left to then be paid back over the next four seasons.

Barca are thought to want to return to the five-year deal that De Jong agreed when he signed from Ajax in January 2019, coming into play in July that year, they have also warned that De Jong and his representatives may be implicated in the criminal actions.

The previous regime, led by former president Josep Bartomeu, are said to be confident that they did nothing wrong when extending De Jong’s contract.

This is a new twist in the ongoing saga surrounding the Netherlands international, who seemingly just wants to carry on playing for Barcelona and to be paid what he agreed with the club.

Barca have got themselves in a financial tangle and part of their plan to free themselves is to encourage De Jong to accept far less than the €18m in deferred wages that was agreed.

Meanwhile, Manchester United and Chelsea remain interested in signing the 25-year-old this summer, with a move to the Premier League remaining a possibility, although he will not want to leave without Barca paying what he is owed.

MORE : Xavi and Joan Laporta give latest on Frenkie De Jong after Barcelona thrash Pumas

MORE : Gary Neville sends message to ‘panicking’ Manchester United board over Frenkie de Jong transfer

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