Frenkie de Jong has won the right not to be on the market
The Dutch midfielder did not want to leave and has earned his place in the team
We’ve come a long way from the summer months where Frenkie de Jong had a foot and a half out of the Camp Nou. Through hard work and sacrifice, the midfielder has turned his situation around. The midfielder is becoming a key player again ahead of the break for the World Cup.
De Jong seemed like he was being pushed out of Barca but he did not want to leave, convinced he could succeed in the Catalan capital.
However, the financial situation meant the club wanted him to go, for the transfer fee they could receive but also for his large pay packet.
De Jong made sure he stayed and that meant the palancas were used to afford the club’s spending. He started the season on the bench, with Busquets, Pedri and Gavi key.
Then De Jong got injured in the international break and was absent for the trips to Mallorca and Milan.
After recovering he had some substitute appearances and after the Clasico, everything changed.
Discounting the Plzen game with nothing at stake, Frenkie has started in all of the games in the last three weeks - Real Madrid, Villarreal, Athletic, Bayern, Valencia, Almeria and Osasuna. Gavi has only started two of those games.
De Jong has also shown he can play in the Busquets pivot role, even if he is freer further forward.
Against Osasuna at El Sadar he even played at centre-back for the final 15 minutes with Xavi pushing for a winner, which eventually came from a great De Jong pass for Raphinha to head home.
It was De Jong’s first assist of the season, and he has goals against Cadiz and Almeria.
De Jong has earned the right not to be put on the market any more. Pique’s retirement also reduces the economic pressure on the club.
His future is still not certain and there will be some who think he might leave, but Frenkie has shown he wants and he can triumph at Barca.
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