The fact that De Jong has to hand in salary is to ‘help the club’, says Laporta in an extensive interview with The New York Times. The former Ajax player will get everything back, the president assures. “He has signed a contract and we stick to that.” De Jong himself would like to stay with the Catalan club, despite alleged interest from Manchester United and Chelsea.
In addition to the situation surrounding De Jong, the president also discusses recent purchases, while the club seems to be on fire financially. For example, the Catalans had to sell 25 percent of the ‘Barca Stadios’. “That’s a decision I honestly would rather not have made. But it was necessary. I’m not a gambler, I take calculated risks,” he told the American newspaper.
Also a possible return of Lionel Messi to the Blaugrana will be discussed briefly. “I feel that as chairman I have a moral obligation to give him the best end of his career.”