The Real test: The world and his new Barcelona fans will be watching him take on Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric… can Frenkie de Jong pass exam ahead of his big money move?
- Frenkie de Jong will win place in fans’ hearts if he can help beat Real Madrid
- His form has dipped off since the €75m move to Barcelona was announced
- There have also been doubts over whether he is worth money amid growing debt
- An impressive performance against Real would help assuage any fears there are
Ajax midfielder Frenkie de Jong does not join Barcelona until July 1 and yet it feels like he is making his debut for the club on Wednesday night.
The 21-year-old midfielder knows he will win a place in his new supporters’ hearts before he even pulls on the Barcelona shirt if he can help engineer Real Madrid’s Champions League demise in the Johan Cruyff Arena.
His €75million move to Barcelona has affected his form adversely. He was poor at the weekend in Ajax’s 1-0 defeat by Heracles, giving the ball away more times than in any of his previous 67 games for the club.
Frenkie de Jong will play against Barcelona’s fierce rivals Real Madrid on Wednesday night
He limped off at the end with muscle problems as his team failed to take anything from the game and so continued a run of poor performances in which they have drawn with Heerenveen and been hammered by Feyenoord.
He does appear to be winning his fitness battle and on Wednesday he will know that the world and his new Barcelona supporters will be watching.
Ajax coach Erik Ten Hag was asked about De Jong’s dip since joining Barcelona. He said: ‘Frenkie just wants to end the season well with Ajax and part of that is giving his best against Real Madrid.’
De Jong’s form has dipped off since his €75million move to Barcelona was announced
It will not be easy because Real Madrid have rediscovered their midfield. Luka Modric has finally shaken off that tremendous World Cup hangover that had him playing with lead in his boots for the first three months of the seasons.
In recent weeks – slightly more liberated in Santiago Solari’s system – he has played like a Ballon d’Or winner and has added goals and assists to his contribution.
Toni Kroos also looks back to his best and the Brazilian Casemiro has scored twice in his last four games.
He goes up against Luka Modric, who has finally shaken off his World Cup hangover
How De Jong matches up to the Ballon d’Or winner will be a crucial test for Barcelona fans
Barcelona are delighted to have signed De Jong ahead of various other top European clubs, Wednesday will give supporters a window into why they are so pleased.
El Mundo Deportivo reported on Wednesday that while president Josep Maria Bartomeu and CEO Oscar Frau were with Ajax sporting directors Marc Overmars and Edwin van der Sar to finalise the deal, the latter received as many as seven calls from Paris – the implication being that PSG were desperate to get De Jong and went right to the wire in their pursuit of him.
It’s not all bunting and welcome balloons in Catalonia however. El Pais revealed on Tuesday that Barcelona took out two loans from US investment funds last year to help them get over certain financial speed bumps that they expect to encounter as they spend around €600m on their new stadium.
There are also doubts over whether it is worth the money given Barcelona’s own prospects
The €140m borrowed is not to fund the building project but to top up signings and wages funds over the next six years when the debt will have to have been repaid.
Some supporters have noted the rise and rise of home grown players 21-year-old Carles Alena and 19-year-old Ricky Puig and asked why when money is tight enough to go into more debt, the club are spending so much on a youngster who may turn out to be a lesser player than two of their own.
A big performance on Wednesday night up against Balon d’Or winner Modric and there will be far fewer doubters in Barcelona waiting for the arrival next summer of the latest Ajax player to make the switch to the Camp Nou.
The rise of 21-year-old Barcelona product Carlos Alena has led to doubts over De Jong
