Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has addressed recent reports surrounding his injury recovery and salary, clarifying misconceptions regarding his decision not to undergo surgery and the financial details of his contract.

De Jong, who sustained a serious right ankle injury during a La Liga match against Celta Vigo in September 2023, has faced ongoing challenges with the same area, prompting speculation about his commitment to treatment.

Reports suggested that the 27-year-old had refused Barcelona’s requests for surgical intervention while earning an astronomical wage amid the club’s financial struggles.

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In an exclusive interview with Barca One, De Jong firmly denied the claims regarding his earnings, stating, “It is not true that I earn 37 million euros. That’s a very big figure and is a long way off what I really earn.”

The Dutch international was rumored to be the highest-paid player at the club, with an alleged annual salary of €37 million (£31 million).

Regarding his injury management, De Jong emphasized that the decision to avoid surgery was a collaborative choice made with the club’s medical team.

“It is not true that the club told me I had to have an operation, and I didn’t want one. Everyone at the club, the doctors and myself all agreed that surgery was not the best option,” he explained.

Reflecting on his recovery journey, De Jong admitted the frustration of being sidelined.

“Having three injuries to the same ankle caused me a bit of mental trauma. But I am gradually regaining my confidence to kick the ball hard and go strong into tackles,” he said.

As De Jong edges closer to a return, he expressed eagerness to rejoin his teammates. “From the outside, the team looks full of energy and quality. I am really keen to be part of that and offer my very best.”

De Jong has yet to make an appearance in the 2024/25 season, but he may have the opportunity to feature in Barcelona’s upcoming Champions League match against Young Boys on Tuesday evening as he continues his recovery.

Bayern Munich were held to a 1-1 draw at home by reigning Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, in a clash that saw Harry Kane limp off late in the game with an injury.

Leverkusen took the lead in the 31st minute when Robert Andrich fired home from a corner after a defensive mistake by Bayern’s Aleksandar Pavlovic.

However, Pavlovic quickly redeemed himself with a stunning long-range strike just eight minutes later to bring Bayern back level.

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England captain Kane, who had a quiet game, was forced off the pitch with a foot injury in the 86th minute following a collision with Leverkusen’s Amine Adli.

Bayern sporting director Max Eberl expressed concern but remained hopeful about Kane’s condition.

“When Harry leaves the field, it means something because he’s pretty tough,” Eberl said. “It doesn’t look good, but we hope he’s made of strong English wood and nothing’s broken.”

The second half saw Bayern push hard for a winner, with Serge Gnabry twice hitting the woodwork in the closest efforts for the hosts.

Bayern captain Manuel Neuer lamented the missed opportunities, stating, “We deserved more, definitely. We were clearly the better team and had the better chances. The goal we conceded was frustrating.”

The match was marked by tension early on, with Bayern’s Dayot Upamecano receiving a yellow card for time-wasting, and Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso also booked for disputing a referee’s decision.

Despite Bayern’s early dominance, Leverkusen were clinical in taking the lead, capitalizing on their rare first-half opportunity.

Leverkusen, who shocked German football last season by becoming the first team to complete an unbeaten league and cup double, proved resilient under pressure and held on for a valuable point.

The result leaves Bayern top of the Bundesliga standings, but with their lead potentially in jeopardy depending on Kane’s injury.

Cole Palmer has etched his name into Premier League history after becoming the first player to score four goals in the first half of a match.

The Chelsea forward delivered an extraordinary performance against Brighton & Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with all four goals coming in a dazzling 19-minute burst during the first half.

Palmer struck in the 21st, 28th, 31st, and 41st minutes, with his four goals spanning just 19 minutes and 57 seconds.

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This achievement places him among an elite group of players who have netted four or more goals in a single Premier League match, a rare feat that has only been accomplished 41 times in the competition’s history.

While Palmer’s feat is remarkable, only one player has scored four goals in a match in a shorter time span—former Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe, who netted four times in just 17 minutes and 56 seconds during Spurs’ 9-1 demolition of Wigan Athletic in November 2009.

In addition to this new record, Palmer has also been making a name for himself from the penalty spot.

He has converted all 10 of his Premier League penalties, putting him just one goal behind Yaya Toure’s record of 11 penalties scored with a 100% conversion rate.

Maintaining a flawless penalty record is no easy task, as Ivan Toney found out in the 2022/23 season.

The Brentford striker came close to matching Toure’s record, only for his 11th penalty to be saved by Nick Pope.

Ironically, Toney managed to score another penalty later in the same match.

With Palmer’s incredible form and flawless penalty-taking, the young England international is fast becoming one of the Premier League’s rising stars, adding new chapters to both Chelsea’s and the league’s history.