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The Argentine shared the locker room with De Jong for two seasons at Barcelona between 2019 and 2021. In a recent interview with Voetbal International, the Dutchman extensively spoke on how the Argentine football legend is the best player on any pitch he graces.
Frenkie de Jong, Lionel Messi. (X)
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has explained what makes Lionel Messi the best player in the world. Messi has dominated football in the last two decades, winning eight Ballon d’Or awards in his illustrious career. The Argentine shared the locker room with De Jong for two seasons at Barcelona between 2019 and 2021.
In a recent interview with Voetbal International, the Dutchman extensively spoke on how the Argentine football legend is the best player on any pitch he graces.
“I’ve never seen such a big difference between one player and the rest. Whatever we did in training, Messi was the best, always,” he said as per GOAL.
Messi and de Jong played 80 matches together at Barcelona. While the Dutchman shared an unbreakable bond with the former Barcelona forward, he didn’t have quite the team success he had initially hoped for alongside the Argentine.
De Jong joined Barcelona in 2019 after a much-anticipated transfer from Ajax. In his debut season, Barcelona went trophyless and managed just a Copa Del Rey crown in the following campaign. It was Messi’s last season in Spain before he left for Ligue side Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2021.
Admitting to the lack of team success at Barcelona, De Jong said, “When I signed for Barcelona, I didn’t imagine I’d have just one La Liga, one Copa del Rey, and one Supercopa de España after four years.”
The Dutch midfielder added, “I expected at least double that, so it’s disappointing. Things happen off the pitch that you can’t predict”.
In the same interview, De Jong was also asked about his current contract situation with Barcelona. The Dutchman remained noncommittal about the contract renewal and said that it was more of a topic for the media.
“My contract renewal is a topic for the local papers, not for me. I want to play football,” he said. “I’ll see what the club wants to do with me. After that, I’ll decide what I want to do with my agent and my family,” De Jong concluded.
De Jong’s role at Barcelona has diminished in recent months despite being in the plans of Hansi Flick. A series of ankle injuries hindered his performances last season. He returned to action under the German coach but has struggled to regain a prominent place in the squad. The upcoming months will be pivotal for both De Jong and Barcelona as the Blaugranas continue their efforts to reclaim their status as one of Europe’s best teams.
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