De Jong's situation has become a recurring issue for Barcelona over the past two summers. The primary reason is that the Dutch midfielder's salary has significantly increased as his contract nears its end, putting more pressure on the club. Barcelona aims to resolve this through negotiations, but previous proposals have not garnered De Jong's agreement, making consensus challenging. Now, Barcelona has presented a new solution.

According to Spanish media, Barcelona is willing to pay part of De Jong's salary—up to €18 million—in exchange for his early departure from the club. This would require De Jong to agree to leave during the summer transfer window of 2025. This plan fundamentally differs from the previous renewal strategy, where Barcelona wanted to extend De Jong's contract to manage his high salary while keeping him in the squad. The current approach seeks to resolve the situation outright.

For Barcelona, both plans have their pros and cons. While the high-salary renewal option could quickly address De Jong's salary issue, it would require future solutions as well. Additionally, the current strained relationship raises questions about continued cooperation. The salary payment plan would impose financial pressure on Barcelona, requiring either a lump-sum or installment payment of €18 million.

Overall, if the relationship between De Jong and Barcelona remains strained or the club decides to move on, offering part of his salary for an early departure is a reasonable choice. Although it poses short-term financial challenges, the transfer fee from selling De Jong could alleviate this burden, especially given his current market value. With his contract nearing expiration, failing to renew could result in greater losses for Barcelona.

Currently, De Jong hasn't played for Barcelona this season, and the two sides have several unresolved issues. Addressing his high salary would benefit Barcelona's future, alleviating concerns over registering new players and freeing up salary space for other signings. If an agreement is reached, Barcelona's financial troubles could see a turning point. The focus now shifts to De Jong's decision.