Frenkie De Jong is a generational talent who emerged to the world stage during 18-19 Champions League season, during which he was an integral part of a fearless Ajax team that made it to the semis under Erik Ten Hag. That season they almost made it to the final, had not been for a late goal by Lucas Moura in a dramatic 2nd Leg semifinal match. The season after he joined FC Barcelona with a whopping 86 million Euro price tag. It is by no surprise that Catalan fans expecting big things to come from this wonderfully gifted Dutchman, that has the possibility to be the centre of the orchestra for years to come. Yet in reality, it couldn't be further from the truth.
It's fair to say that so far Barcelona is struggling to get the best out of De Jong. His contribution has been great for sure, but also, he seems struggling to show his full potential. For whatever reasons, every Barcelona coach since 2019 seems incapable of using his skillset in the best way. De Jong is trying to be self explanatory in addressing this issue though, as he said that "He's not a fixed number 6, and needs FREEDOM of movement". In short sentence, De Jong is simply a deep lying midfielder in the same mold of Mousa Dembele or Mateo Kovacic. These type of players indeed is so often being misused and misunderstood.
De Jong is not a No. 6, a regista, or a box-to-box player. He is simply a CMF whose main quality is to progress the play, and thus best deployed in a deeper role. He was mainly played in a double pivot role alongside Lasse Schone back at Ajax, and this I believe is the best possible role for him. To accommodate this, Barcelona has to land a player capable of playing as a pivot but also attack minded, that's why the arrival of Gundogan could solve some issue that Barca has in midfield. He'll get the freedom to play and progress the ball, but not too much responsibility to creates chances, which would be the tasks of Pedri and Gundogan or whoever midfielders that will be deployed in a more advance role. In truth he had play in many occasions as a double pivot alongside Busquets, but Busquets is too static, physically degrading and proving to be a bit of a deadweight for De Jong.
Stats wise De Jong is a complete package midfielder, with incredible combo of tech-stamina-speed. What he is on paper is so tempting for any coaches to be misused and thus deploy him in a box-to-box role. But again, he operates best as a connector between transitions. Lets hope Xavi has a deeper insight about this player and could use him in a right way. Because seeing him in a full flight, blitz past players and threading incisive pass is one of the most joyful experience in watching football.
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