De Jong against Bamba in the game between Barcelona and Celta. ALBERT GEA (Portal)
The message was clear: “We want you to be one of the leaders of the team.” The receiver, Frenkie De Jong. One of the first decisions Deco made as Barcelona’s football director was to find the Dutch midfielder. They had a conversation in which the new head of Ciudad Deportiva presented a different future. “Ter Stegen, Araujo, Gavi and you must lead Barcelona,” he assured him. And it didn’t take long before he called his representative to start negotiations for the extension of his relationship with the Barça company, which ends in June 2026.
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It wasn’t the first time De Jong heard these words. Ter Stegen, his friend and team captain, is also very aware of the former Ajax player’s situation. From the offices to the dressing room, the idea is the same: De Jong must follow in the German goalkeeper’s footsteps and sign a contract that will tie him to the Camp Nou for many years. A radical change in De Jong’s Barça life, in the club, but above all in the team.
Xavi’s Barcelona suffers when De Jong is missing. Without Busquets, Oriol Romeu and the Dutchman pooled their strengths in midfield. A success for the coach: “It’s the best Barça since I arrived.” The problem is that the team is losing balance due to the Dutchman’s injury – he has a sprained ankle – as we saw this Wednesday in Porto. “We didn’t have the two best players who could take care of the ball,” the coach made clear, referring to the absences of De Jong and Pedri after the difficult win in Portugal, the second in the group stage of the Champions League. With De Jong in the team, Barça loses an average of 106 balls per game; without him, 130. Furthermore, with 21 players on the field, the Blaugrana have more ball possession (70% to 62%) and a higher win rate (85% to 66%).
“The one who surprised me the most is De Jong because of his perception with the ball and how he interprets the spaces,” emphasized João Félix. He is not the only Barça player who appreciates Frenkie De Jong. “Who I admire most is De Jong. “When it was said that he could leave, he was screwed,” said Gavi in an interview with La Vanguardia, referring to the Dutchman’s possible departure in the summer of 2022. At that time, with Mateu Alemany at the helm, according to the football management, destabilized the club called on the former Ajax player to force his departure.
Barça justified the pressure on De Jong with two arguments: firstly, his high salary; the second was one of the few players with a market. Busquets, one of its great protectors, did not understand the club, nor did his friend Messi from Paris. For both of them, the Dutchman was the future at Inter Miami today. But De Jong stood up: “I want to stay.” The coaching staff praised his attitude but asked him to take a step forward. “He plays seven or eight points in every game, but he has the level to play nine or ten,” commented Xavi’s team.
Today De Jong is the footballer Xavi wanted. And when he’s not there, Barça suffers. In any case, the problem for Xavi is not just due to the Dutchman’s absence. Pedri and Raphinha are injured at Barcelona. And after the duel against Porto, Lewandowski went to the infirmary. After the initial examinations at the Do Dragão Stadium, Barcelona’s medical services were sure that the Pole only suffered a bruise on his left ankle after the strong tackle by David Carmo (he was replaced by Ferran Torres in the 31st minute). had. However, this Thursday morning, Barça confirmed that the striker has a sprained ankle. He will not play against Granada next Sunday and those around him doubt his presence in the Clásico on Saturday October 28th. “We don’t think it will be received,” they comment.
Barcelona’s small squad (19 first-team players plus Lamine Yamal and Fermín López) is a boon for the club’s economic region – this year, payroll plus depreciation is within UEFA recommended standards, i.e. less than 70% income – but a headache for Xavi Hernández. At least Barça is breathing in Europe. It doesn’t shine, but it wins. After the victory in Porto, the Barça team got three points in two consecutive away games against Barcelona for the first time since 2020. “We have started to get rid of the ghosts of the Champions League of other years,” the coach cheered. And De Jong didn’t count. This new strange need for Barcelona.
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