De Jong and De Ligt: The princes of European football
Barcelona hope both Dutch starlets will be playing at Camp Nou next season
The Champions League has thrown up plenty of surprises this season. The holders, Real Madrid, the Italian Champions, Juventus, and the hosts of the final, Atletico Madrid, have all been knocked out before the semifinals. Pep Guardiola's Manchester City and German champions Bayern Munich are also gone. In contrast, teams that have backed youngsters and grown in recent years are now seeing results, in Tottenham and Ajax.
Mauricio Pochettino has nurtured some of English football's biggest talent at Spurs, while Ajax have brought players through with a clear DNA which fits the Barcelona philosophy perfectly. Among them, two players, in particular, stand out: Frankie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt.
De Jong tied down, De Ligt on track
Europe has been impressed with the Dutch side's impressive performances at the Santiago Bernabeu and Juventus Stadium. Barça were clever to do their homework on time. De Jong is already tied down and De Ligt's signing is on track. The Blaugrana closed a 75 million euro deal, with another 11 million in potential add ons, for De Jong in January, while talks to sign De Ligt continue to advance.
In the case of De Ligt, Ajax's unexpected progression in the Champions League has delayed the signing. The centre-back wants to focus on the semifinal against Tottenham, as well as the Dutch cup final against Willem II on May 5 and the title run in as they battle for top spot in the Eredivisie. Both teams are currently level on points.
Dreaming of the treble
The double is the objective within Ajax's reach, while the treble would be a dream. After beating Real Madrid and Juve, Tottenham are a side they see themselves capable of competing against and earning a spot in the final at the Wanda with the hope of completing a legendary season.
Barça, meanwhile, have a semifinal against Liverpool which they will go into with optimism and the tranquility of having a team for the present and the future. Lionel Messi is the undisputed kind of European and world football. Cristiano Ronaldo's Champions League KO with Juve leaves him with little chance of winning the Ballon d'Or. In contrast, Messi's still aspiring to win the Champions League, a competition he's the top scorer in, the same as La Liga, where Barça have a nine-point lead and he's the Pichichi. Add a Copa del Rey final against Valencia to that.
Leo won't down tools, though, and next season he will be joined by two youngsters with enormous quality, potential and ambition, as they've shown in the Champions League this season. Barça are leading from the front and they want to stay there.
