Barcelona is on alert for what could be another shocking betrayal. A situation reminiscent of the Dembélé saga is causing unrest in the squad, as a key player has reportedly refused to extend his contract with the club and is secretly in talks with a top European side over a potential summer move. In reaction, Joan Laporta has reportedly urged Hansi Flick to remove the player from the starting lineup and leave him on the bench, hoping to avoid a repeat of the chaotic transfer drama that previously unsettled the club.

Barcelona could be heading towards a repeat of the Ousmane Dembélé exit saga — this time involving Frenkie de Jong, according to a report by El Nacional. The club’s attempts to renew De Jong’s contract, which runs until 2026, have reached an impasse as the Dutch midfielder has reportedly turned down every proposal that includes a pay cut.

De Jong currently holds the highest salary at Barcelona, making negotiations especially delicate amid the club’s ongoing financial challenges.

This situation closely resembles what transpired with Ousmane Dembélé, who left the Catalan club last summer. Dembélé had similarly rejected a contract renewal and activated his €50 million release clause to secure a move to Paris Saint-Germain.

His exit came as a shock to Barcelona’s management, made worse by the fact that PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and manager Luis Enrique personally persuaded the player to join their project in France. The unexpected nature of that transfer caused internal unrest at Barcelona, and now, club officials worry that De Jong might be treading a similar path.

There are growing concerns within the club that De Jong could already be in talks with other teams or even have a verbal agreement arranged. Barcelona’s leadership is determined to avoid a repeat scenario where a key player is allowed to run down his contract and leave on a free transfer. The concern is intensified by the fact that Barcelona invested over €85 million to sign De Jong from Ajax in 2019, and losing him without financial compensation would be a significant setback.

Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain is reportedly keeping a close eye on De Jong’s contract situation. The French champions have a history of exploiting Barcelona’s transfer vulnerabilities, having previously secured marquee signings like Neymar, Lionel Messi, and most recently, Dembélé.

Should De Jong’s contract be allowed to wind down, PSG could swoop in with a lucrative offer, including a substantial signing bonus and an attractive salary package, as part of their well-established recruitment strategy.

This developing scenario places considerable pressure on Barcelona president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco, who must now decide whether to push for a contract extension, consider selling De Jong during the upcoming transfer window, or risk watching another prized asset walk away for free — a mistake the club can hardly afford to repeat in its current state.