De Jong Affirms Midfield Role Despite Recent Position Changes
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has clearly expressed his preference for a midfield position to coach Hansi Flick, emphasizing that his long-term future lies in that area. This statement comes after he was deployed at right-back during the Blaugrana’s recent victory against Atletico Madrid in La Liga.
De Jong’s use in unconventional positions is not new; Flick also positioned him as a centre-back in a previous match against Alaves. Despite successfully adapting to these new roles, De Jong maintains a firm stance on where he feels he belongs on the field.
In an interview with ESPN, De Jong indicated his willingness to fulfill any role necessary for the team but asserted that there should be no ambiguity about his primary position. “If the manager asks me to play in defence, I’ll do it, but that won’t be the case in the long term. Everyone knows I’m a midfielder,” he stated. He also recalled instances under different coaches at Ajax and Barcelona, where similar adjustments were made.
Meanwhile, De Jong has addressed the criticism he has faced regarding his performances, highlighting a disconnect between his contributions and the perception of his play. “People don’t watch matches regularly. Few watch the full ninety minutes. They don’t really understand the game, nor do they realise what’s happening on the pitch, or the reasoning behind the decisions made,” he explained.
He suggested that the common measure of a player’s effectiveness—goals and assists—does not capture the full scope of his contributions. “The easiest way to assess a player is, of course, to look at whether he scores or provides an assist. In my case, those figures are much lower,” De Jong remarked.
Regarding his physical condition, De Jong, who recently returned from an injury sustained during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, shared that he feels good and strong. When queried about his readiness for a full ninety minutes with his national team, he responded cautiously, “We’ll see. I feel good.”
