- De Jong refutes rumours of contract talks having stalled at Barca
- Midfielder has recovered from ankle injury
- Barca face Atletico on Sunday in La Liga
Getty Images Sport'Let the newspapers talk!' - Frenkie de Jong defiant amid rumours that Barcelona contract talks have stalled as Dutchman continues comeback from ankle injury

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Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's entry-level Basic plan gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.
The VPN can be applied across 10 different devices simultaneously, and offers Lite Protection that blocks ads and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is available to be purchased as an add-on.
Additionally, ExpressVPN's Basic plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 10MB/month private email relay plus 10 shared aliases.
There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 80%.

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Additionally, ExpressVPN's Advanced plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 100MB/month private email relay plus 50 shared aliases and a custom domain, and ExpressKeys, which gives users a password management facility for an unlimited number of passwords plus a 2FA authenticator.
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Marca reported last month that the Blaugrana have stalled contract discussions with De Jong and will resume the talks at the end of the 2024/25 campaign. With his contract expiring in the summer of 2026, the Dutchman's future at the Catalan side remains uncertain. The midfielder, however, has now opened up about his situation as he remains determined to remain at the club.
WHAT FRENKIE DE JONG SAID
Speaking to Ziggo Sport, the 27-year-old said: "Let the newspapers talk about me. I’ve been here for a while now, so I’m used to it. It can be frustrating. At some point, they invented things, so I had to express myself."
He added: "I feel good. I’m in very good shape, and I don’t think about my ankle during matches anymore."
Getty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
De Jong suffered an ankle injury towards the end of the 2023/24 season, which kept him out of action for a significant period of time. The Netherlands international, however, has now fully recovered and has cemented his place in Barcelona's starting lineup under Hansi Flick. In the current season, De Jong has appeared in 29 matches across all competitions where he has scored two goals and provided one assist.
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?
The Catalan giants will be back in action in La Liga on Sunday night as they take on Atletico Madrid in a crucial fixture away from home.
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