Big expectations, 'lies' and anger: Will things work out for Frenkie De Jong at Barcelona? - ESPN

It's been over five years since former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu boarded a flight to the Netherlands to close the signing of Ajax Amsterdam midfielder Frenkie de Jong.

De Jong, now 26, was one of Europe's most in-demand midfielders. He had fielded phone calls from Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel and Manchester City's Pep Guardiola, leaving Barça afraid they would miss out on the prodigious Dutch international. In the end, Bartomeu's trip helped finalise a transfer worth an initial €75 million that was officially announced on Jan. 23, 2019, ahead of a full move that summer.

There have been over 200 appearances, one LaLiga title, four managers, one interim coach and many ups and downs since. At times, De Jong has looked like the generational midfielder Barça were so desperate to sign. In other moments, while his quality has never been in doubt, there have been arguments about his best role and whether he suits the team's style.

It's fair to say the chaos that has engulfed Barça on and off the pitch hasn't created a prosperous environment. The turmoil even led to the club considering an offer from Manchester United for him in the summer of 2022 as a fix to its financial problems, even though he wanted to stay. Tension followed, with De Jong upset at his contract being leaked in the media and Barça — now under a different club president, with Joan Laporta taking the reins for a second time — even suggesting they could take legal action over the contract renewal he signed when Bartomeu was still president in 2020.

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A truce followed, De Jong won his place back in the side after that tricky summer of 2022, and he is now one of the team's four captains.