Frenkie de Jong approves Barcelona extension to 2029 as Flick eyes Rashford at No.9

Barcelona have received a major boost as Frenkie de Jong has given his approval to extend his contract until 2029, with only formalities left. The midfielder’s stance aligns with the club’s plan to keep its core intact under Hansi Flick. In parallel, the coaching staff are exploring a bold attacking blueprint: Marcus Rashford as a central striker, flanked by Raphinha on the left and Lamine Yamal on the right, with Fermín López operating as the advanced midfielder. While squad availability and recruitment will determine timing, the direction is clear—Barça want pace, verticality and control to reset after recent setbacks.

Following internal talks between Barcelona and Frenkie de Jong’s camp, a verbal agreement is now in place on a new deal through June 2029, pending final signatures and official announcement. De Jong publicly indicated he intends to renew. Separately, Hansi Flick and his staff have been assessing forward configurations and are considering a system that would deploy Marcus Rashford centrally, provided the necessary player availability and market conditions align. These developments come in the wake of recent defeats that prompted honest reflections within the dressing room and reinforced the need for clarity in both contract planning and tactical identity.

🎙️Szczęsny further on the recent defeats. 🗣️: “They were two completely different games. PSG were better than us, more precise, fresher, and tactically solid. We have to accept that. But against Sevilla, we simply didn’t give 100%. That’s worrying. In football, if you’re not

@Barca_Buzz

Impact Analysis

Securing Frenkie de Jong to 2029 stabilizes Barcelona’s midfield for the long term and sends a message of institutional continuity. On the pitch, De Jong’s profile—press resistance, progressive carries and tempo control—remains foundational to Hansi Flick’s positional play. Retaining him allows Barça to streamline roles around Ilkay Gündogan, Pedri and Gavi, while enabling smoother rotations with Oriol Romeu or a deeper pivot when game states require. Off the pitch, a renewed deal can be structured to smooth near-term salary-cap pressure with incentives and staggered compensation, providing headroom for targeted recruitment.

The Rashford-as-9 concept is tactically intriguing. Flick favors vertical transitions married to aggressive counter-pressing; Rashford’s depth runs, carry threat and gravity in behind can pin back backlines and open lanes for the right-footed inversion of Lamine Yamal on the right. Shifting Raphinha to the left adds a left-side runner who can both hold width and attack the half-space, while Fermín López between the lines offers timing and late entries. The trade-off is off-ball consistency: to maximize the press, the front four must synchronize triggers and distances. With squad fit and the right training blocks, the ceiling is high—and the scheme gives Barça a different route against low blocks.

Reaction

Early fan sentiment is buoyant about De Jong’s renewal. Many view it as the leadership anchor the dressing room needs, praising his loyalty and the stability it brings a squad in transition under Flick. The midfielder’s own words—confirming he intends to extend—have reassured supporters who feared another protracted contract saga.

Debate is livelier around the Rashford plan. Optimists highlight his elite pace, ability to attack space, and the synergistic fit with Yamal’s playmaking from the right. They argue that a true vertical threat at No.9 has been missing since prime Suárez and would unshackle midfield creators. Skeptics counter with concerns over finishing streaks and off-ball intensity, warning that consistency in pressing patterns will define success. There’s also a pragmatic current: some fans insist any forward addition must align with La Liga’s financial rules and not compromise defensive balance. Nonetheless, the overarching mood trends positive—if the recruitment puzzle clicks, supporters can envision a fluid, high-speed front line that complements a re-committed De Jong.

Social reactions

He has conceded way too much in the few games he has played this season even though the team performed very bad

Chapterz Banky 🔬 🥼 (@ChapterzBanky)

FC Barcelona expresses its condolences for the passing of Miguel Ángel Russo, coach of Boca Juniors. Rest in peace.

FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)

• About your contract renewal, Fabrizio said a 'HERE WE GO', then it must be true right? 🚨🗣️ 𝗡𝗘𝗪: Frenkie: "Did Fabrizio say that? Well, like I always said: yes, in principle I am going to renew my contract with Barcelona."

The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX)

Prediction

Expect Barcelona to finalize and announce De Jong’s extension with a photo session at the club offices and a detailed statement outlining vision, leadership and performance incentives. Sporting-wise, Flick will double down on rehearsing automatisms that spotlight De Jong’s progression lanes and protect him with complementary profiles, especially in match phases where opponents press high.

On the attacking front, Barcelona will continue scenario-planning around a central striker who stretches the last line. If market conditions open a path, negotiations for a profile like Marcus Rashford could accelerate, leveraging amortization structures and performance add-ons. In the interim, Flick could test the blueprint conceptually with existing pieces—using internal options to mirror the dynamics: width on the left, inversion on the right, and an aggressive No.10 timing runs beyond the striker. By the next window, expect clarity: either a marquee acquisition to spearhead the plan or a refined internal solution that preserves the same tactical principles.

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Conclusion

Barcelona’s message is firm: lock down the core, sharpen the edges. Frenkie de Jong’s imminent extension to 2029 is both a footballing and strategic win—keeping a world-class conductor at the heart of a team seeking rhythm and results under Hansi Flick. It reduces uncertainty, fortifies the dressing room and gives the staff permission to build layers of structure around a trusted pillar.

The Rashford-centric scheme underscores the staff’s ambition to marry control with directness. Whether the club ultimately lands that exact profile or engineers an in-house version, the intention is unmistakable: restore menace in depth, amplify Yamal’s creative platform and give Raphinha and Fermín clearly defined lanes. If the formalities on De Jong proceed as expected and recruitment aligns with the tactical blueprint, Barça will enter the next phase of the season with renewed authority, a clearer identity and the capacity to hurt opponents in more ways than one.