Frenkie de Jong has made history at FC Barcelona: the midfielder now holds the club record for the most appearances by a Dutch player. That’s nothing to sniff at given Barcelona’s storied history with players from the Netherlands.
But the latest debate surrounding the midfielder asks whether the era where the Dutch midfielder is a guaranteed starter might be drawing to a close. That’s because the landscape in the Blaugrana midfield has shifted recently. Gavi has made a remarkable return from injury, with his trademark tenacity and telepathic understanding with Pedri. Simultaneously, the rapid rise of Marc Bernal means Hansi Flick will have another option to pair with Pedri. According to Diario AS, De Jong is no longer considered completely untouchable, even if his quality remains undeniable.
It’s not that De Jong has had a poor year - no, if anything, it’s quite the opposite. With 38 appearances, a goal, and nine assists, he has posted some of his best statistical output since his standout 2020-21 campaign under Ronald Koeman. Under Flick, De Jong has been playing at a quicker, two-touch tempo rather than relying so heavily on the long, ball-carrying runs that originally made him famous at Ajax.
Yet a feeling persists among some critics that he hasn’t consistently dominated the grandest stages. He was missing during the emphatic victories over Newcastle United (7-2 in the UEFA Champions League) and Atlético Madrid (3-0 in the Copa del Rey).
And while he shone during the winter months, his presence couldn’t avert the heavy cup defeat at the Metropolitano that ultimately proved fatal for Barcelona’s Copa del Rey chase. Though to be fair, De Jong did not play almost any role in Barcelona’s doomed Champions League tie vs. Atléti, as he logged only 10 minutes over two legs.
The debate surrounding his style of play is something the player himself is keenly aware of, and he isn’t afraid to defend his approach. In a recent interview with Diario SPORT, De Jong addressed the criticism regarding his decision-making on the ball.
“There are situations in which perhaps I could pass the ball faster. But if you are the free man and there is no other free man, it makes no sense to pass it. You have to play forward with someone who has an advantage. If you are the free man and the fullback is half-free, but you see an opponent coming towards him, it makes no sense to give him the ball,” he explained.
De Jong spoke out against critics in the same interview, saying that while some journalists understand the game of football, many do not.
It is a frustration shared by prominent commentators like David Bernabeu, who recently argued that De Jong has unfairly become a regular scapegoat for the team’s collective shortcomings. He claimed that critics are quick to blame De Jong for defeats but ignore his contributions when the team succeeds. Perhaps, Bernabeu argues, there is more criticism for a foreigner - even someone identified with the Barcelona way - than there would be for a graduate from La Masia.
Despite the constant noise and past turbulence, such as the summer of 2022 when the board tried to push him toward Manchester United for financial reasons, De Jong’s commitment to the club remains absolute.
Now a father of two and thoroughly settled in the city, his relationship with club president Joan Laporta has stabilized. He has no intention of packing his bags, a stance he reiterated by extending his contract through 2029.