Dembele scenario is repeated again: The player refuses to renew his contract with Barça and is secretly negotiating with Paris Saint-Germain to leave for free

Barcelona is bracing for a potential repeat of the Ousmane Dembélé saga, as Frenkie de Jong reportedly continues to reject contract extension offers from the club. The Dutch midfielder, whose contract runs until 2026, is Barcelona’s highest-paid player, and the management led by Joan Laporta and Deco has been pushing for an extension that includes a significant salary reduction. However, De Jong has thus far refused these proposals, raising concerns within the club about his long-term future.

This situation mirrors Dembélé’s recent departure to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Despite prolonged negotiations, Dembélé took advantage of a €50 million release clause to join PSG, where he was offered a higher salary and convinced by Luis Enrique to make the switch. The transfer caused controversy and left Barcelona reeling, both financially and in terms of squad depth.

According to *El Nacional*, fears are growing that De Jong could pursue a similar path. There is speculation that he might already be in talks with other clubs and could even have a verbal agreement in place. If the midfielder were to leave for free when his contract expires, it would mark a significant loss for Barcelona, who spent over €85 million to sign him from Ajax in 2019 under Josep Maria Bartomeu.

### PSG Waiting in the Wings

Paris Saint-Germain is reportedly monitoring De Jong’s situation closely, having previously benefited from Barcelona’s struggles to retain players. With the potential of a free transfer, PSG could offer De Jong a lucrative salary package and a substantial signing bonus, similar to deals struck with Neymar Jr., Lionel Messi, and most recently, Dembélé.

### Barcelona’s Challenge

Laporta and Deco are now under pressure to avoid another high-profile departure without compensation. While they aim to secure De Jong’s commitment with a revised deal, the player’s reluctance suggests a growing possibility that Barcelona may face another significant blow in the transfer market.

This ongoing issue highlights the club’s broader financial struggles and challenges in retaining key players, which could once again leave Barcelona vulnerable to opportunistic moves by rivals like PSG.