Frenkie De Jong Has Turned FC Barcelona Career Around And Is Now ‘Untouchable’ Under Xavi

Frenkie de Jong has turned his FC Barcelona career around and is now untouchable at the club.

The Netherlands international arrived at Camp Nou in 2019 from Ajax for a €75mn ($81.3mn) fee to great fanfare.

Last summer, however, he was deemed surplus to requirements and placed on the transfer market, with Manchester United having a rumored €85mn ($92.1mn) bid for him accepted by the Catalans in mid-July.

De Jong dragged his heels and refused to leave, though, not even tempted by a reunion with former manager Erik ten Hag with whom he reached the Champions League semi-finals in the same year he put pen to paper with Barca.

Refusing to be bullied despite alleged details of his contract being leaked to the press and being made a scapegoat for the club’s financial problems due to his high deferred wages in the pandemic which are still yet to be repaid, the 25-year-old indicated that he wanted to stick around and succeed under Xavi Hernandez.

Xavi publicly backed his charge but always nodded to his hands being tied on whether De Jong would be sold or not due to Barca’s debts. But as the 2022/2023 season has progressed, the number 21 has gradually become key to the manager’s midfield.

One of his best games thus far came on Sunday as Barca lifted the Spanish Super Cup with a 3-1 win over bitter rivals Real Madrid. Operating in a four-man midfield with Sergio Busquets by his side, De Jong but in a relatively descrete but oustanding performance in Riyadh.

On Wednesday morning, Mundo Deportivo have broken down a list of factors that have contributed to De Jong’s reversal in fortunes.

These include working hard without arguing, staying tight-lipped in interviews, demanding top displays from himself and always being self-critical. He is working better in a double pivot with Busquets, and always remains in dialogue with Xavi on what the coach wants from him and how he can improve.

Each passing week, it becomes more unfathomable as to why Barca ever entertained offloading De Jong. With his contract not set to expire until 2026 and the player well settled in the city with his fiancee, there is plenty of Frenkie still yet to come.