It’s always hard to tell with comments like this, it could be blowing everything out of proportion, but it’s also a weird thing to say if you aren’t trying to lay down some hints about a potential move in the future.
Frenkie de Jong had been known about for a while, but he broke into everyone’s consciousness as a key member of the Ajax team that came so close to reaching the Champions League final.
That form convinced Barcelona to fork out a hefty transfer fee, with The Independent reporting that Ajax received around £65m for his services.
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His style and the timing of his transfer seemed perfect for Barca. He’s dynamic but also elegant on the ball, with the ability to retain possession and pick a final pass. The Catalan’s midfield has been a problem area since the departures of Xavi and Iniesta, so it’s starting to look like he could finally fill some of that void.
Only some of de Jong’s recent comments suggest that he might be regretting the move. The Mirror reported on some of his recent comments about the Premier League and it does make for interesting reading. To put his comments in context, they also suggest he was close to signing for Man City in the Summer but they refused to meet his wage demands.
De Jong in action for Ajax
Speaking about the Premier League he said: “I used to think that La Liga was the strongest football league in the world. You could see their dominance in European Cup competitions.”
“But the Premier League has gained power over the last few years. When it comes to pure skills, La Liga is better. But because of the sheer intensity, the English competition is at a slightly higher level.”
Does he regret joining Barca?
It’s possible that he was just being complimentary to the league when he was asked about it, but that does sound like a player who would rather be playing in England than Spain.
There’s absolutely nothing to suggest he will be leaving Barcelona just now, but it could be worth keeping an eye on. If Ernesto Valverde is sacked and perhaps Barca don’t win anything this year, there might be some rumours of another switch in the Summer after this.
