I love De Jong as a player but would be lying if I said I'm loving FDJ's attitude
He's walking on eggshells trying not to piss off Barca. Just publicly state that Barca are conning him out of his wages and he wants to leave, lawsuit otherwise. But seems like he's clinging onto the hope that some arrangement is sorted and he gets to stay.
Maybe something else is going on behind the scenes but I don't understand why he is so reluctant to burn bridges.
Walking on eggshells? He doesn't want to leave, he isn't going to come out and say the club are conning him when he wants to stay there. This saga is very tiring for all involved and it's the same thing being repeated over and over again. The 17mil owed keeps being parroted but the evidence thus far suggests Frenkie and his agents know they have no legal case and his main concern is staying at Barca.
He won't be benched because he refused to leave but he will face competition from Gavi/Kessie this season. Frenkie is a confident type though so I'm sure he backs himself.
Also, how is he killing his career? CL, strengthening heavily this summer, playing at his dream club, beautiful city with a chance at trophies. He'll make a lot more than 17million also on his current contract. The ball is firmly in his court. People keep believing everything these journalists write, big bad Barca are abusing Frenkie so why does he want to stay? Why do players still want to join that scummy club? Maybe because the media have no idea whats actually going on and like making up stories?
Barca leaked stories to their media to try force an exit as Frenkie 1. doesn't really have a place in the 433 midfield Xavi is looking for and 2. his wages break the new wage cap. ten Hag saw an opportunity to try and persuade the player to join United as the face of his new project. Xavi, Laporta, United and ten Hag are all working to find a solution aka him joining United but the player is digging his heels in as he's settled and has no reason to leave.