MADRID, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 8: Frenkie de Jong of FC Barcelona during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Atletico Madrid v FC Barcelona at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on November 8, 2026 in Madrid Spain (Photo by M Gracia Jimenez/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Gill Clark Gill Clark is the site manager of Barca Blaugranes and joined in 2017. She has worked in sports media as a writer and editor for the best part of two decades and has been in love with the beautiful game for as long as she can remember.
Xavi Hernandez has been full of praise for Frenkie de Jong as he prepares to link up with the Barcelona star on intenational duty with the Netherlands.
De Jong is back to full fitness and in the squad for Nations League fixtures against Greece and Germany. Xavi was asked about the Barca star ahead of the games and feels he is not appreciated enough.
“Yes, I think he is undervalued, but not by the coaches and his teammates. You have to listen to the people who are with him every day, because if you ask who the best midfielder is, they say Frenkie,” he told a news conference.
“I don’t know why he is undervalued. People might not understand what happens on the pitch, tactically speaking. Pinning down the opponent, creating an overload in attack and defense... He is a complete player.”
De Jong played a key role for Barcelona in Sunday’s win over Atletico, featuring initially as a right-back, and Xavi says he has the quality to play anywhere on the pitch.
“At Barça on Sunday, he played as a full-back. That wouldn’t be my first thought, but I have also used him as a central defender at Barcelona,” he added.
“He knows me and the staff very well and knows our philosophy and ideas. He needs to show character and he is one of the captains. He has everything it takes to perform for us.”
De Jong will be hoping to play his first minutes for the Netherlands since the World Cup over the international break after shaking off an ankle injury that saw him miss the start of the season.