Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has expressed admiration for Lionel Messi, emphasizing the Argentine’s unparalleled brilliance. De Jong and Messi shared two seasons at Barcelona before Messi’s departure to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the summer of 2021.
Reflecting on their time together, the Netherlands international described training alongside Messi as an unforgettable experience, pointing out the Argentine’s extraordinary talent. De Jong noted that Messi was consistently the best in the squad and often devised solutions on the pitch that even coaches couldn’t foresee.
In an interview with Voetbal International, De Jong stated:
“I’ve never witnessed such a significant gap between one player and the rest. In every training session, Messi stood out as the best. He sees possibilities on the field that coaches can’t anticipate.”
During their time together at Barcelona, Messi and De Jong played 80 matches, contributing to seven goals as a duo. While Messi has since moved on, first to PSG and then to Inter Miami, De Jong remains with the Catalan club.
Frenkie de Jong on His Barcelona Future
The Dutch midfielder’s future at Barcelona has been a topic of discussion, especially given the club’s ongoing financial challenges. Reports suggest that De Jong is one of the highest earners at the club, and his departure could alleviate some of their financial issues.
Reflecting on his time at Barcelona since joining in 2019 from Ajax, De Jong expressed some disappointment over the lack of trophies won during his tenure. He admitted that his expectations for success had not fully materialized.
“Barcelona was and still is my dream club. As a child, I dreamed of playing here. I still enjoy every day, but, as in life, not everything goes as perfectly as imagined. There’s a reason people say you shouldn’t meet your heroes,” De Jong remarked.
He added:
“When I signed my contract, I didn’t think that after five years, I would have only won one La Liga title, one Copa del Rey, and one Supercopa. I expected at least double that, so in terms of trophies, it’s disappointing. However, things happen that you can’t foresee.”
Despite the speculation about his future, De Jong remains under contract with Ba
rcelona until 2026.