Frenkie de Jong saved his career at Barça under Hansi Flick this season. The Dutch midfielder was sitting on the bench after returning from injury. Marc Casado had successfully occupied his role on the pitch. There were fans who wanted him out of the club at the start of the season. However, now everyone wants Frenkie to stay. The only complaint that fans might have is the huge salary the midfielder has, the second-highest in the squad. He is only behind Robert Lewandowski.
The Ajax talent that struggled at Barça
In 2019, after a fairytale run, although Ajax got knocked out by Tottenham in the semi-finals, Barcelona had taken notice of Frenkie de Jong. For €75m, Barça bought him over, hoping they had found their next Xavi. It is safe to say that Frenkie de Jong did not have the best of starts to his career at Barcelona. The club was going through a rough period in the sporting and financial departments, and he felt the heat of the moment. The Dutch maestro still showed sparks of genius, getting past defenders and driving the ball forward.
But when he had to play out of position as a pivot and sometimes even as a centre-back, Frenkie looked dull and not up to expectations. The fans did not take it easy on Frenkie, as he was one of the highest-paid players in the squad when the club was going through financial turmoil. This meant that in every transfer window, when Barcelona could not sign players in key positions, Frenkie de Jong was criticised for “getting paid for more than he was worth”.
Frenkie’s redemption and woe to stay at Barça
According to a report by Laia Tudel from Catalunya Radio, Frenkie de Jong wants to stay at Barcelona. The Dutch maestro has sent a clear message to the club: “I want to stay, and if staying requires renewing with a lower salary, I am ready for that too”. Frenkie has become a pillar alongside Pedri in Barcelona’s midfield under Hansi Flick. He controls the game from behind the attack and defends well in transitions to stop counterattacks. When Frenkie de Jong and Pedri play alongside, it is almost impossible for the opponents to win possession from Barcelona.
Frenkie’s bright future with Barcelona:
The Dutch maestro is bound to become a key player in a very successful Barça side in the future. Under Hansi Flick Frenkie has been his very best and so has Barcelona. The two have won a domestic treble this season, and although they had to face a heartbreaking exit from the Champions League against Inter, it will not be a surprise if they win that trophy many times in the future.
Spanish 
English 
German 
Czech