The Dutch midfielder, now 28, endured a long road back from a serious ankle injury that sidelined him for months and sparked questions over his future at the club. His new deal ends years of uncertainty that had surrounded his name since the financial crisis gripped Barcelona.

Speaking to El País, De Jong said he never lost faith in his place at the Camp Nou despite pressure from within the club to sell him. "I've always been clear that I wanted to stay at Barcelona. I've always been happy here, with the team and with playing here," he said. "There was a time when some people at the club wanted to sell me to make money. I think it was in the summer of 2023 or 2022, I don't remember exactly."

Barcelona's financial struggles once made De Jong one of their most saleable assets, but he said his decision to remain never changed. "The club was going through a difficult financial period, and I was a player with market value," he explained. "But for me, it was clear, I wanted to stay. I was confident that if I was fit, I would play. In the end, when you have a contract, if you decide to stay, you stay."

De Jong also highlighted the political atmosphere surrounding Barcelona, saying it adds a different kind of pressure. "Here, there are elections every five years, so it's impossible for there not to be politics. There are candidates who want to win votes, and they need the press," he said.

The former Ajax captain admitted his ankle injury left him in deep uncertainty. "Normally, when you have a hamstring injury, you know it takes between four and six weeks to recover," he said. "But in this case, no one could tell me how long I'd be out. I didn't know if it would be a year or, worse, if I'd need surgery. The first thing I did when I woke up was check how it felt."

Reflecting on criticism and perceptions, De Jong said he has learned to accept differing opinions. "The good thing about football is that everyone can have their opinion. There are people who think Leo isn't the best. You can never convince everyone. It's true that many teammates and coaches have said that, if there's an underrated player, it's me."

When asked about teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, De Jong preferred to keep the focus on support rather than hype. "Lamine has to do in his life what he thinks he should do. My responsibility is to help him on the pitch. And there, he does things well."

Fully fit and back in rhythm, De Jong has re-established himself as a crucial part of Barcelona's midfield alongside Pedri. His renewal represents mutual trust between player and club, and a chance for him to build an even stronger legacy at the club he calls home.

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