Where Will Frenkie De Jong Fit At Barcelona
January 28, 2019
Barcelona has fended off rivals Paris Saint-German and Manchester City to get the signature of the Ajax youngster. But where will the versatile young midfielder fit in Barcelona?
Frenkie De Jong has quality, skills and versatility as a footballer; these are very sought after traits in football. Frenkie Possess a unique ability to move with ease between defense and midfield.
At Barcelona, there are players with similar qualities such as Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets and Arthur Melo. Thus, De Jong’s capability to transition the ball out from the defense to attack would make him a valuable player at the centre of defense, especially when Barca plays with weaker sides that prefer to defend. This article examines three areas where Frenkie De Jong will fit in Barcelona.
- At Center Back
Little has been said of Frenkie De Jong’s defensive abilities. He has an excellent defensive prowess, a suitable marker and loves going in for tackles. What makes him special at centre-back is his ability to influence the game as a deep-lying centre-back.
- As a Defensive Midfielder
Many football pundits have compared Frenkie De Jong to Barcelona’s anchorman Sergio Busquets. Even Barca Legend, Xavi has said that his (De Jong) playing style is very similar to Busquets.
One thing is for sure. However, Sergio Busquets will be 31 years of age next season, and De Jong will be used in his role at defensive midfield when Busquets needs to be rested.
- As a double pivot in midfield
De Jong can also be deployed alongside Busquets or Rakitic in a double pivot midfielder. In this formation, he will play in a more offensively-minded role alongside a defensively minded midfield partner. It can work in the 4-4-2 formation that Ernesto Valverde often used last season. De Jong possesses excellent dribbling skills and is a skilled passer too.
De Jong will still have a long to learn at Barcelona and will still have to prove himself.
This article is brought to us by our Sports Writers Club resident columnist – Collins Michael Nwokolo. Follow him on Twitter and Pinterest.
