Frenkie De Jong should consider legal action against Barcelona, Gary Neville claims

De Jong is thought to be owed £17m in deferred wages

Gary Neville has suggested that Frenkie De Jong should consider taking legal action against Barcelona, with the Catalan club still owing the Dutchman money as they look to sell him this summer. Manchester United have reportedly agreed a £63million deal to sign the midfielder, but he is refusing to leave the Camp Nou until the LaLiga club reimburse him for £17m in deferred wages. De Jong agreed to lower his salary during the covid pandemic to help ease the financial burden on the club, however, Barcelona promised to pay it back in full over the course of his contract, which expires in 2026. As reported by the Independent, the Catalan giants have made an offer to the former Ajax man to pay him a portion of his deferred salary. The offer is thought to be £10m short of the full package that he is owed.

Neville backs De Jong and others to take legal action

With Barcelona adding Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Andreas Christsensen and Franck Kessié to their ranks - while still owing significant money in deferred wages - former Manchester United defender Neville believes De Jong should think about taking legal action against the club. He tweeted: "De Jong should consider legal action v Barcelona and all players should be behind him!A club spending fortunes on new players whilst not paying the ones they have under contract their full money is immoral and a breach. @FIFPRO should be all over bullying like this and stop it." https://twitter.com/GNev2/status/1551578036071534592 Although Xavi is thought to be an admirer of De Jong, he is also keen on signing Sevilla defender Jules Kounde, and knows that he needs to raise additional funds if the club are to match Chelsea’s £55m offer for the Frenchman. Related links:

• Frenkie de Jong prefers move to Chelsea as he ‘doesn’t like’ Manchester
• Frenkie de Jong hits out at Barcelona as Man United transfer saga continues
• Barcelona want Manchester United to ‘pay Frenkie de Jong’s unpaid wages’