Frenkie de Jong’s time at Barcelona has not been as smooth as he or the club had hoped. After recovering from a long injury layoff, the Dutch midfielder has found himself struggling to secure a regular spot in the starting lineup.
This is largely due to the rise of Marc Casado, who has impressed under the guidance of manager Hansi Flick.
As a result, SPORT has mentioned that Flick has a challenge in handling the situation with de Jong. When he took over as Barcelona’s coach last summer, one of his main goals was to help the Dutchman return to top form.
After spending more than 150 days on the sidelines, de Jong made his comeback, but he has yet to convince Flick that he should be a regular starter.
While the assessment of his performances can be subjective, there are clear signs that de Jong is not performing at his best.
No place for de Jong
Despite this, Flick had continued to show trust in de Jong, recognising his potential and the quality he can bring to the team. However, with more options now available to him, things may be changing.
Frenkie de Jong has lost his place. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Barcelona’s midfield is looking crowded. The return of Fermin Lopez and Gavi has provided the team with fresh energy, particularly in pressing higher up the field.
Casado has emerged as a key player, proving to be an excellent metronome in the holding role. Pedri has regained his form and is more creative than ever, while Dani Olmo’s talents in the attacking midfield are still waiting to be fully utilised.
Additionally, Pablo Torre has made his presence felt, even overtaking de Jong in the pecking order during the match against Brest.
Fans are not happy as well
With seven midfielders vying for just three positions, the competition for playing time is intense. To make matters more complicated, the atmosphere at home is growing increasingly frustrated with de Jong’s performances.
The question now is whether Barcelona should continue to rely on de Jong for important minutes, or if it is time for him to take a step back and assume a more secondary role.
The upcoming match against Las Palmas could mark the next chapter in this ongoing saga.