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.
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.
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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.
"De Jong should consider legal action v Barcelona and all players should be behind him!" Neville wrote on Twitter.
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"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