Barcelona’s €75 million midfielder not ready to give up, Xavi impressed with recent displays

The arrival of Frenkie de Jong at Barcelona was hought to herald the beginning of a new generation in the Catalan midfield. Brought up through the ranks of Ajax’s famed academy, it was expected that the young star would gel seamlessly into the Barça style of football.

Just over a year ago, the Dutch international enjoyed some of his best football with the garnet and blue under Ronald Koeman. And despite a great start to the 2021/22 season, he had fallen off the horse.

In fact, de Jong’s position in the team seemed to be under threat for a while. The rapid growth of Pedri, Gavi and Nico Gonzalez further increased the pressure on his shoulders to deliver.

However, the player seems to have seen off the worst. According to reports from Mundo Deportivo, Xavi is impressed with the version of the player he saw against Alaves and Atletico Madrid.

At the Mendizorrotza, he scored in the dying minutes to guarantee Barcelona three points after a tightly contested game. And against Atleti, he started in a deeper position and helped keep the likes of Koke and Rodrigo de Paul at bay.

He performed his duty of linking with the attack to perfection while also ensuring he did not leave the team vulnerable in midfield. Unsurprisingly, it was his combination with Gavi that led to Dani Alves’ goal in the second half.

Moreover, de Jong has been a leader on the pitch for Barcelona. His sense of responsibility and ability to stay calm has come in handy for the team on numerous occasions, and Xavi recognizes that.

As it stands, Barcelona have ruled out any news of the midfielder being up for sale in the summer. The Dutch protege will hope to maintain his form ahead of a crucial month for Barcelona.