Barcelona’s Dutch international midfielder Frenkie de Jong, 25, is being strongly linked with a move away from the club to Manchester United, who are trying to sign him. The two clubs have been in contact but are still not close to doing a deal.
What type of player will United be signing if they do? We spoke to three people who have watched him regularly since he joined the Catalans from Ajax in 2019.
Michael Turner, Barca season ticket holder since 1993
"He’s one of the few beautiful players playing football. He’s got it all. But it’s funny what’s happened to him because most of the time when a big signing comes to Barcelona, after three touches they are immediately admired, as was the case with Suarez or Ronaldinho. Or they are put into that [Ousmane] Dembele bracket of 'you cost a lot of money but your touch isn’t perfect, you can’t control a ball'.
"With Frenkie de Jong, I think people in Camp Nou think he's a good or even great footballer but they’re a bit mystified as to why he hasn't been a huge success so far. I think that's down to the decay in the team, not down to him. But he does have something which is very much ‘him’: he likes to run with the ball which didn’t really fit in with how Barcelona were playing or did in the last few years. Maybe only Iniesta did that, but he was exceptional.
"So De Jong didn’t fit in with this ‘pass it, give it, pass it’ philosophy and none of the trainers we had knew how to teach him. He probably needed Ten Hag for that. He’s a beautiful footballer who has something in the way he turns when he receives the ball that is unique. Maybe De Bruyne is the nearest comparable player in the Premier League. I think De Bruyne has more physique, but that way of turning and running with the ball and not losing it is pretty unique in world football. I’d be very sorry to see him go but at the same time if we’ve not had a trainer who has been able to fit him in the scheme, he might be better off going to a trainer who can do that.
"It seemed the coaches wanted him to play the [Sergio] Busquets role and that was a huge mistake. That’s not where he should play. Busquets is a more static player, the ball flies around and Busquets doesn’t, whereas Frenkie is a dynamic footballer who combines in a different way. Busquets always does it first time, Frenkie would draw the ball and beat a man, that would be his modus operandi.
Barcelona 2021/22 season ratings
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BARCELONA RATINGS: GOALKEEPER: Marc-Andre ter Stegen 7 - The German, 30, played in 35 of Barça’s 38 league games and, after doing the same for the last couple of terms, is the undisputed number one at the club he’s been at since 2014. A rare mainstay in a much-changed side, but it was still a shock to see him floundering as his compatriots from Eintracht Frankfurt knocked Barça out of the Europa League at Camp Nou. EPA -
DEFENDERS: Sergino Dest 5 - The American, 21, started 17 games last season – down on last term. Ten of those starts were in Barça’s first 12 fraught league games. Injuries, the arrival of Xavi and the return of Dani Alves limited his performances in the second half of the season. He’s talented and young enough to improve a lot – especially his crossing and defending. He’ll need to if he’s to make the right-back position his own. Getty Images -
Gerard Pique 7 - He’s 35 and remains as important to Barcelona as he ever was, in part because he’s a mainstay in a central defence which has seen a lot of changes around him. He’s the one who drives the team, who pushes most for equalisers, who the fans listen to for an alternative view to the one his employers put out. He’s upped that since Messi left. Reuters -
Ronald Araujo 8 - Superb season for the Uruguayan, 23, who has become a cult hero among fans who sing his name every game. He’s a hard, strong central defender who started 25 league games. Excellent in the air, at tackling and a threat when he goes forward, there was delight when he recently signed a contract until 2026. Scored in big games against Sevilla and Atletico Madrid last season too. Getty Images -
Oscar Mingueza 5 - Started only nine league games and played out of his preferred central defence position on the right. He’s 23, he doesn’t look like he’s in the idealised XI of many fans and Kostic’s shot going through his legs as Eintracht took Barça apart in Camp Nou was not a pretty sight, but Barça need a squad and he’s a useful part of it. AP Photo -
Dani Alves 6 - Brought back at the age of 38, he was a Xavi ally on the pitch and in the dressing room. He’s not the one-man right wing he was, but he performed adequately in his 13 league starts in 2022 and contributed with three assists. That the Brazilian can still play at this level at 39 is to his credit. Getty Images -
Jordi Alba 5 - Part of the old guard, he often has more touches per game than any other player on the pitch. The link up with his perfect foil Messi has now gone, but he still made 10 assists for league goals and he’s still first choice left-back. AFP -
Eric Garcia 6 - Still finding his feet and at 21, that’s natural. The move from Manchester City hasn’t fully convinced, he can look shaky and composed in the same game and he’s not been short of critics, but Spain boss Luis Enrique said of him this week: “Eric is a marvellous player, the criticism is unjust, as long as I’m coach and he keeps playing like this he’ll stay with the national team.” Getty Images -
Clement Lenglet 4 - The French central defender started only seven league games and came on in 14 more. Too many mistakes, too many bookings, but he started Barça’s final games of the season so that maybe an indication of Xavi’s thinking. Better in Europe, though. He’d be sold if a decent offer came in for the player who cost €35 million from Sevilla in 2018. AFP -
Samuel Umtiti NA - One start and he’s the player Barça have most wanted to get off their books. At his best, he established himself as a starter alongside Pique in 2016/17. He was a World Cup winner with France but his knee injury – and the way he chose not to have an operation, frustrated fans. Injury-plagued (he missed three months of this season with a fractured toe) and likely to be moved on if Barça can find a taker. EPA -
MIDFIELDERS: Frenkie de Jong 7 - Started 30 league matches, plus another 12 in Europe where he performed better. The Dutchman, 25, has yet to fulfil his huge €75 million transfer fee - though he’s played in troubled times. His manager likes him and he’s better with Busquets behind him, yet that’s also the role he covets most – he wants to be the first player to get the ball from the defenders. A super passer not afraid to dribble past an opponent, his through balls can split defences. Linked with a move away. Getty Images -
Pedri 6 - After playing non-stop for club and country in 20-21, the Canarian, still only 19, was limited to only 10 league starts in 21-22. Twice he had a hamstring injury, missing the first half of the season and the last eight league games. He shoots, he passes well, he defends, he has the potential to be one of the best players in the world. Xavi hopes he will be a key man again next season. Reuters -
Gavi 9 - Seventeen and superb, the breakthrough star of the season started 28 league games and came on in six more. The midfielder gets stuck in and isn’t averse to a yellow card, but given he has also become an important part of Luis Enrique’s Spain side, he was as overused in 21-22 as Pedri was the previous season. Looks like he has the talent to play at the top level and his through balls are shaping up to be as effective as Iniesta’s, but needs more discipline. Getty Images -
Sergio Busquets 7 - Played 3,202 league minutes last season, far more than any other Barça player. The defensive midfielder, 33, brings balance, experience and muscle to the side (none could match his 12 yellow cards). He’s still performing, still protecting a defence which needs protecting, still the first name on the team sheet. Getty Images -
Nico 6 - Son of former Deportivo La Coruna great Fran, Nico, 20, doesn’t have the same technical level as fellow young Spanish midfielders Pedri and Gavi. Failed to shine when he started seven consecutive league games in the autumn – Barça won only two of them – but the central midfielder is valued at Camp Nou. A big lad who should be better in the air, he’s still improving. Getty Images -
Riqui Puig 5 - Adored by Barça’s online fans who can’t understand why the La Masia graduate doesn’t get more opportunities; ignored by the coaches who are paid to manage FC Barcelona. The skilful, diminutive, central midfielder, 22, started only two league games. Needs to be playing more football, even if away from Camp Nou. AP Photo -
FORWARDS: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 8 - A big success after signing from Arsenal in February, the 32-year-old has long wanted to play for Barcelona and his family have long lived near the city. That’s a model Barça have to persist with since they don’t have the finances they once did. Scored a stunning hat-trick in a 4-1 away win at Valencia, then scored twice in a 4-0 away win at Real Madrid – by a distance Barça’s best result and performance of the season. Getty Images -
Luuk de Jong 9 - Derided as not being Barça class, as being a cut-price option for a desperate club cutting costs, he had more doubters than any of his teammates after arriving from Sevilla at the start of the season. And how he proved them wrong. The Dutchman was always a backup striker and started only six games, coming on in 15 more. Yet he scored six goals in his 643 league minutes. He’s versatile, better than any Barça player in the air, he lays the ball off well and draws in defenders. Super sub. AP Photo -
Ousmane Dembele 6 - Linked with a move away and the expensive Frenchman may yet leave. He was strongly criticised by fans and even club insiders after refusing to sign a contract. Started 15 league games and came on in six more. Scored only once, yet made an astonishing 13 assists, more than any other player. He’s one of the few players to get the crowd off their seats, to try and beat an opponent. It doesn’t always come off and that frustrates some fans used to more measured build up, but he’s box office on the pitch. Getty Images -
Ansu Fati 5 - Another big teen talent, 19, but one who barely played because of a knee and then hamstring injury. He returned to the delight of the crowd at home to Mallorca in May and featured in Barça’s final five games of the season, playing on the left. Star potential – as he showed with a header against Real Madrid in the Super Cup which signalled the Catalans re-birth under Xavi. Getty Images -
Ferran Torres 5 - Signed from Manchester City, his four goals (and four assists) in 1,417 league minutes was disappointing. He’s scored two in one game for City against Arsenal in August before his January move. He got another two in a March home win against Osasuna, but he was profligate elsewhere and needs consistency. Selfless, hard-working, supported by the crowd, versatile – but he needs to sharpen up in front of goal. AFP -
Adama Traore 6 - Four league starts from when his loan move from Wolves started in January until the end of the season. Fast, strong, direct, the boy from Barcelona didn’t do enough for his team to make a serious push to sign him. Getty Images -
Memphis Depay 7 - Given the small task of replacing Lionel Messi at the start of the season, he played well and scored in eight of Barça’s first 15 league games in a struggling side. But no goals or assists in six Champions League group games was one reason Barça didn’t advance. A hamstring and then Achilles injury disrupted his season before he came back into the starting XI at the close. Reuters
"I think Frenkie would do well in the Premier League. He has two good feet, he can head it, play sweeper if he wanted to. He arrives in the box and he gets goals by finishing off moves that he started. There’s not an obvious flaw in his game, he’s a complete footballer.
"But if you’re not Johan Cruyff who can mould a team to your character and ability, then you need a manager to say ‘everyone in the team should look to get the ball to Frenkie and he’ll give it back and make us play’. That has not happened.
"Ronald Koeman didn’t ask that of him, while the first three months under Xavi were Frenkie’s best since joining Barca. It looks like he wants to go but the journalists I know tell me that he wants to stay. It’s all a mystery but he’s the complete footballer. The issue is how to get the best out of him, what players you put around him and how much freedom you give to a guy who is absolutely all over the pitch. And that’s not easy.
"It works at City because Guardiola has been giving that to people since he started, but if a team isn’t organised it can create anarchy, which it did at times at Barca. He was all over the pitch when he was supposed to be a central midfielder and the managers didn’t have a team in place to cover that."
Manolo Marquez, Catalan football manager
“Frankie de Jong is one of the most complete midfielders in Europe. He’s a box-to-box player who has great positioning. He arrives well from the second line towards the forwards, he has fantastic movement in the pockets of space and he’s able to pick up the ball from the central defenders and start to build from the back. Maybe in some moments when the team is not playing well, he loses concentration, but he remains one of the best midfielders in Europe.”
Josu Julian, Catalan football coach
“Frenkie has superb technical skills – as you would expect from a player who’d been at Ajax for so long. He carries the ball well from the centre, he passes through the lines and he dribbles. His timing to arrive in the box is perfect, but we’ve not seen enough of that at Camp Nou. He’s played in different positions including as a central defender, but he’s best in the middle. He’s elegant to watch, but it’s not always been easy for him at Barcelona. It’s a difficult club to arrive at and play well.
"Barca has a very clear methodology and if you’re not the type of player to fit into it then you can struggle. Frenkie struggled in his first season, but then everyone said: ‘It’s his first season, he’ll be better next year.’ And they said the same thing in his second season, and his third. It hasn’t really happened for him at Barca, despite his skills and that big transfer fee.
“As a person and a professional he’s flawless, he’s well educated and there are no issues, but he never truly made a connection with Barca fans like other players.”
