De Jong: Barça asked me to knock out Real Madrid when they signed me
The midfielder faces Los Blancos in Ajax colours at the Bernabeu on Tuesday
Frenkie de Jong is looking forward to facing Real Madrid in the Champions League. After the first leg, Ajax must come from behind to reach the last eight of the competition, but they face a Madrid side lacking in front of goal (as shown in both Clasicos against Barcelona).
The Dutch side know they will need to be at their best to get through, though, after losing 2-1 at home. At the Santiago Bernabeu, De Jong, who will move to Barça in the summer, is hoping to fulfill a request made by the Catalan club when he signed for them.
"When I signed Barça asked me to knock out Real Madrid," De Jong said in an interview with De Telegraaf ahead of this week's game in the Spanish capital. He added that "I saw the Clasico on Saturday at home, but not to analyse Madrid, just as a supporter on the sofa."
De Jong continued: "If we knock out Real Madrid we will surprise everyone in the football world and we will put Ajax's name on the map.
"We have to play offensively, press and play good football. If everyone's involved, we have enough quality to surprise people."
Ajax will take inspiration from the legendary side which beat Real Madrid in 1995. "I've not seen that whole game," said De Jong, who wasn't even born at the time. "But I have seen parts of it online. Ajax played really well and won 2-0 with goals from Litmanen and Kluivert.
"The were applauded by the Madrid fans, right? It would be good if that happened again. That's what we want. Even through I don't think people can expect that from this Ajax. Madrid have just won the Champions League again and are a little far ahead..."
