Frenkie de Jong has become a talked-about figure in the Barcelona circles lately, especially after his horrid show against Real Betis.
The Dutchman came on as a substitute in the second half against Betis, only to concede a penalty and offer a dismal performance in the middle of the park.
Fans and critics did not take de Jong’s performance kindly, with many blaming him for the draw. De Jong himself was mentally affected after his performance.
Flick in love with de Jong
However, a recent report from Diario SPORT has offered a rather surprising insight into de Jong and how he is perceived by coach Hansi Flick.
While others are turning a blind eye towards the Dutchman, Flick, for his part, is enamoured by the midfielder and the quality he offers to the table.
That is the reason why he has been giving him so many minutes of play since he was medically cleared. His goal is none other than to help the midfielder return to his best level, as he considers him a top player.
Hansi Flick is ‘in love’ with Frenkie de Jong (Photo by Rafa Babot/Getty Images)
The German coach also believes that, due to his qualities, the Dutchman fits perfectly into his tactical setup.
De Jong initially played in deeper midfield roles, but in recent matches, we have also seen him pushed further forward, playing as a link-up player.
Recent reports indicate that Flick is ready to deploy de Jong in an advanced role in order to get the best out of the former Ajax starlet.
The report adds that if it were up to Flick, Frenkie de Jong would continue wearing the Blaugrana jersey next season, the final year of his contract with the club.
However, Flick’s thought might not exactly be shared by many in the Barcelona board, and with the January transfer window just around the corner, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for the Barcelona midfielder.