Emerging from the shadows, lit up by his wave of blonde hair and a spring in his step, is the Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
Yet to play over 45 minutes in a La Liga game this season, it’s nine months since De Jong was a constant at Barça. Now, he’s eyeing more minutes in the lineup. This amid the Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman releasing him from international duty early, having managed the 27-year-old’s playing time while he shakes off a niggling ankle injury.
At which it feels right to discuss the Dutchman—a curious figure at Barcelona over his five and a bit seasons there. De Jong doesn’t receive widespread acclaim for his many talents. In fairness, he’s playing for a club previously home to a legend in a similar position: Sergio Busquets. And for a team with prolonged financial difficulties, where superstars are always potentially sellable assets. He also cost the Blaugrana an initial €75 million ($79 million), so brilliance is par for the course.
Even so, De Jong’s artistry in the number six position gets overlooked. Rather than a powerhouse, he’s more graceful in style—nipping in at the opportune moment to break up attacks, wriggling away from danger and gliding forward in possession, and consistently completing over 90% of his passes—of which he often attempts challenging ones, weighing them precisely.
Managing An Asset Like De Jong
When considering Barcelona’s debt and how it’s sold parts of itself—pulling economic levers—for immediate financial gain, why hasn’t it sought to make some quick money by selling De Jong? He’s been the subject of a blockbuster move away before, for around the same price as he arrived, if not much more—like in 2022, when Manchester United and Barça supposedly agreed a package worth up to €85 million ($90 million). An attractive proposition, then.
Contrarily, De Jong’s quality—still in his best years—has made him a project player. In that sense, club president Joan Laporta has always wanted to keep the former Ajax man, so much so that, in 2023, he spoke about rejecting an even more tempting offer of €100 million ($105 million) the previous year. Because, for all the lure of making dollars by offloading stars, developing a successful team is a keystone—for performance bonuses, the brand, and the commercial opportunities coming with this.
Strong Ties Hard To Break
Tying him just as close to Camp Nou is simpler: De Jong is content in Catalunya—made clear (Spanish) in 2023 when he told El Periódico, “It’s the club of my dreams, and I want to be here my whole life.” Practically, that loyalty has come with a willingness to accept lower wages to help the side financially—this for the highest-paid squad member in Europe’s top leagues as recently as July, going by Capology’s estimates, as noted by Transfermarkt; De Jong has denied pocketing as much as the €37 million ($39 million) annual sum cited, however.
Regardless, Barcelona owes De Jong a lot in unpaid wages, widely reported at around €18 million ($19 million). And until that’s paid off, it complicates a move away. Further, it could be difficult for Barça to recoup a bountiful sum for him now, with the delicate ankle injury possibly getting to De Jong’s head (Spanish), putting a return to top form in doubt. Nevertheless, the latest rumor about his future is a transfer to AC Milan in exchange for rapid winger Rafael Leão (Spanish), as Catalunya outlet El Nacional floats today.
De Jong is not the only Barcelona talent whose picture is complex. The midfielder’s task is now regaining prominence in a lineup that has shown its capabilities without him this season. Rodri’s recent Ballon d’Or coup has demonstrated the value and appreciation of midfielder orchestrators in today’s game, and a fit and firing De Jong is a still plus for any team.
To coach Hansi Flick benefit, he’s a timely starting XI option for Barcelona ahead of a tricky encounter at Celta Vigo on Saturday, with the team seeking a response after a dull showing in defeat to Real Sociedad before the international break. At a club historically entwined with Netherlands soccer greatness, De Jong is Barça’s Dutch master today. But, with everything in mind, for how much longer?
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