Gary Neville has advised Frenkie de Jong to consider taking legal action and claims he is being bullied by his club.
The Netherlands international is a top transfer target for Manchester United, with former boss Erik ten Hag desperate to make him a marquee signing.
The transfer fee is not believed to be an issue, with the two clubs reportedly agreeing on a price of €75 million.
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Barca remain in a difficult financial situation and according to AS, they have told the former Ajax man that he must take a 50 per cent wage cut should he wish to stay put.
However, the Blaugrana still owe him €17 million in deferred wages after he agreed to take a salary slash during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
And Neville has slammed Barca's treatment of De Jong, branding their actions "immoral" and encouraging players' union FIFPRO TO step in.
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"De Jong should consider legal action v Barcelona and all players should be behind him!" Neville wrote on Twitter.
"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."
Despite being in a whole lot of debt and owing money elsewhere, Barca have still signed Franck Kessie, Andreas Christensen, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski.
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They were able to sign Ousmane Dembele to a new deal on reduced terms and are working on a deal for Sevilla defender Jules Kounde.
as been with Barca on their pre-season tour of the United States and the club's president Joan Laporta is hoping to resolve the situation with further talks planned.
De Jong's two pre-season outings, against Inter Miami and Real Madrid, have seen him play as a centre-back - a position his manager Xavi Hernandez likes him playing in.
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Speaking after the El Clasico win, Xavi said: "I’m not here to send messages. I already spoke with Frenkie, I value him very much. He’s key player, but then there’s economic situation and Financial Fair Play…
"He can give us a lot also as a centre back."
Topics: Manchester United, Barcelona, Gary Neville, Erik Ten Hag, Frenkie De Jong
Josh Lawless