Pressure mounts on Barcelona’s €60 million-rated midfielder as starting spot slips away

Frenkie de Jong’s journey at Barcelona has been far from straightforward, even as he approaches his sixth season with the club. 

To that extent, a report from Jordi Gil through SPORT has mentioned that although his talent is undeniable, he has struggled to find a consistent role on the field that maximises his potential. 

De Jong’s time with Barcelona has been filled with position changes and tactical adjustments, none of which have provided the Dutch midfielder with the stability he needs to thrive. 

Always changing

Initially, it seemed that De Jong could fill the pivotal role in Barcelona’s midfield, a position previously dominated by club legend Sergio Busquets. 

However, in his debut match in La Liga back in 2019, the midfield dynamics under then-manager Ernesto Valverde did not click as expected. The lack of cohesion left De Jong without a clear position, and this trend has continued through multiple seasons.

The 2020-21 season brought a change in management with Ronald Koeman, a fellow Dutchman who many thought would be the right person to help De Jong shine. 

Frenkie de Jong’s position at Barcelona is not certain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

However, Miralem Pjanic’s arrival from Juventus meant De Jong was once again left adjusting his position rather than anchoring the midfield. With Busquets still occupying the pivot role, De Jong was shuffled around, unable to secure his ideal spot.

Following Busquets’ departure to Inter Miami, there was renewed hope for De Jong to take charge of the midfield. Yet, this season under Hansi Flick, things have been complicated by an ankle injury that limited De Jong’s playtime. 

Position and future far from certain

Though he made an impactful return against Real Madrid, his position in the squad remains uncertain. His replacement in the subsequent game against Espanyol didn’t go well, leading to doubts about his role as a starter. 

Adding to the complexity, Barcelona have strong midfield options with players like Marc Casado, Pedri, Dani Olmo, and the ever-competitive Gavi, who are all pushing for spots. 

Even Eric Garcia has seen time as a central midfielder, further complicating De Jong’s place in the lineup.

With his contract expiring in 2026, Barcelona must soon decide whether to renew it or consider selling him in the summer to secure financial gain. This decision will likely shape not only De Jong’s future but also Barcelona’s approach to their midfield.

*Player valuation in title obtained from transfermarkt.com on date of publication.