Dutch legend Ruud Gullit has never been afraid to criticise Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong during his time at the club.
[Gullit said De Jong was “like a ghost” at the last World Cup](https://www.barcablaugranes.com/2024/6/4/24171050/dutch-legend-ruud-gullit-takes-aim-at-barcelona-midfielder-frenkie-de-jong) and followed that up by telling the midfielder to [leave Barcelona earlier this year](https://www.barcablaugranes.com/2025/1/14/24342908/time-to-look-for-something-else-frenkie-de-jong-urged-to-leave-barcelona-by-ruud-gullit).
De Jong has since managed to return to form and fitness at Barcelona, and Gullit says it’s time to give the Netherlands international some praise.
> “I’ve criticized him a lot. A few months ago, we all thought he’d become a supporting player in midfield. Now he’s back in the starting lineup, has regained his best form, and is once again a key player for his team,” he Ziggo Sport.
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> “We have to recognize that Frenkie’s improvement is a great achievement. I’m very happy for him and I think it will be very positive for the national team. He’s great, but if he doesn’t play well, I’ll criticize him again. For now, he’s playing well, and it’s fair that he receives all the praise in the world.”
The Barca midfielder will come up against some familiar faces over the international break as the Netherlands take on Spain in the Nations League quarter-finals.