Barcelona midfielder has asked about Saudi Arabia to his national teammate, claims director | Barca Universal

"With the Financial Fair Play overhang still present, the club might resort to the sale of at least one big player in order to generate the margins required to return to the 1:1 rule. For the longest time, Frenkie de Jong had been seen as someone who could leave Barcelona, and the midfielder had even been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia in the past. De Jong inquired about Saudi Arabia In a fresh twist, though, Al Ittihad sporting director Ramon Planes has revealed that De Jong has already inquired about life in Saudi Arabia to his national teammate and Al Ittihad player Steven Bergwijn. "Frenkie asked me how I'm doing here," Planes told Catalunya Radio (h/t Mundo Deportivo), citing Al Ittihad player Bergwijn."

"However, Planes clarified that De Jong's enquiry does not mean he wants to immediately settle for a move to Saudi Arabia. He said it was a 'matter of curiosity'. "It doesn't mean he wants to leave Barça, but it does mean that he surely has the possibility of playing football in Saudi Arabia open in his mind," he added."

Barcelona are preparing for an important 2026 and are expected to have a busy summer transfer window. Financial Fair Play restrictions may force the club to sell at least one big player to comply with the 1:1 rule. Frenkie de Jong has long been linked with a possible exit and has previously been linked to Saudi Arabia. Ramon Planes revealed that De Jong asked teammate Steven Bergwijn about life in Saudi Arabia. Planes described De Jong's enquiry as a matter of curiosity, not an immediate desire to leave. De Jong recently renewed his Barcelona contract and remains part of Hansi Flick's plans.

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