It has been some weeks since 27-year-old Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong returned from his lengthy injury layoff, as the Dutchman had to remain on the sidelines for several months with an ankle injury.
Although not yet a starter, Hansi Flick has been giving the Dutch midfielder minutes in almost all the matches since his return. However, the level that Frenkie has shown in these appearances does not raise a lot of confidence in his ability to slot back into the starting line-up.
Similarly, these performances are also contributing to the high level of uncertainty surrounding his future, as several voices in the Catalan club’s hierarchy are calling for his departure next summer.
Meanwhile, there are some other voices that are in favor of retaining him, and according to SPORT, one such powerful voice is that of the head coach Hansi Flick, who still likes the midfielder a lot, and is still committed to recovering his best level.
BARCELONA, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 30: Frenkie de Jong of FC Barcelona looks on as he warms up prior to the LaLiga match between FC Barcelona and UD Las Palmas at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on November 30, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.
Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Furthermore, the Barcelona coach believes De Jong is a top footballer, one who perfectly fits his style of play, and that is the reason why the German tactician is so keen to get him back to his best.
For this purpose, Flick has also tried to experiment with the Dutchman, as he played him deeper, at the base of the midfield when he returned from his injury, but has been playing him higher up in the last few matches.
If Flick had his way, he would keep Frenkie de Jong for the next year, which is the last one in his Barcelona contract.
However, situations like that of the Dutchman involve very high stakes, and with his salary proving to be a significant burden on the Barcelona wage bill, the Catalan club might have to disregard Flick’s desires when making a decision about Frenkie’s future.