Tuesday, August 9, 2022 at 5:17 PM• Guy Habets • Last update: 17:20

Nico González plays on a rental basis for Valencia this season. That reports transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. The Barcelona playmaker, who was often used by trainer Xavi as a substitute for Frenkie de Jong last season, is given the opportunity to show himself more often in the Spanish the Dutch city. De Jong therefore has one less competitor in midfield.

Romano writes that Barcelona and Valencia are signing the necessary papers, with which the rental transfer from Nico to loose Che is made official. The playmaker, whose contract in Catalonia is also being extended, will be on display at the Estadio Mestalla until the end of this season. Valencia has not negotiated a purchase option and will therefore have to say goodbye to Nico in June next year.

Nico’s departure is good news for De Jong. The midfielder was often brought in by Xavi as a replacement for the the Dutch international last season and De Jong no longer has to fear that. It could also mean that his place in the selection of Barcelona will become more valuable. The former Ajax player would like to stay, but is los Azulgrana pushed towards the exit. He was also asked if he wanted to hand in salary.

Barcelona even threatened legal action to have De Jong’s contract declared invalid, reported The Athletic Monday. The club is said to have informed the playmaker on July 15 that the last contract he signed, in October 2020, should never have been signed. The promised conditions are said to have come about through ‘criminal actions’ by the previous board and so Barça think it can cancel De Jong’s current contract.