By Gura Garcia
Sep 29, 2024, 3:49 PM EDT
The return to the playing fields of Dutch midfielder Frenkie De Jong is getting closer and closer and it could be soon, even to the point of being able to make his debut next Tuesday in the Champions League against Young Boys of Switzerland. To celebrate his return to the game and leaving behind his physical problems with his right ankle, he gave an interview to Barca One, in which he commented on everything he has experienced in the months after his injury.
De Jong was honest with the fans
“It has been a very hard process because playing soccer is what I like the most, my passion is soccer and that’s how it has been all my life. When you can’t play with continuity and you miss important games, playing the Euro Cup, with Barça… is a very hard process,” the Barça ’21’ began by saying.
The Dutchman made it clear that what had been commented at the time in various media outlets about whether or not he would have surgery on his ankle was actually a consensus: “There was talk about whether I had to have surgery, if not, if the club said yes I would have to have surgery. and that I didn’t want. That is not true because we all agree that not having surgery would be the best option. So I don’t understand where that came from.”
The midfielder is understanding and is totally clear about what is said about his salary, and also about the delay that has occurred with his return to the playing fields. “I understand people who get frustrated at some point because they didn’t have all the information about me or the club.. “I have remained silent.” He put himself in the fans’ shoes and understands them: “They say ‘this guy is making a lot of money, he says he doesn’t want to have surgery… that he’s taking a vacation, that he’s not training’, but the reality is different. It has not been like that,” confessed the culé footballer. De Jong took the opportunity to flatly deny that he earns close to 40 ‘kilos’ this year: “There were figures like 37 million or something like that and the reality is very, very far from that.”
It has not been easy mentally for De Jong
“Every day you get out of bed you are trying it on and looking at your ankle to see how it is. You’re always thinking about the area with the things you do. That’s why mentally it’s a tough process.”
Although returning to the game is almost a fact, Frenkie is in the stage of regaining confidence in himself, his game and being able to contribute his best version to the club: “I’m in the process now. Like last year I had three injuries to the same ankle. I am regaining the confidence to hit hard, enter duels and I am doing well. Step by step, but I’m doing well.”
As third captain and without the injured Marc Ter Stegen or Ronald Araujo, he will wear the armband again upon his return: “It means a lot, it is a great honor to be captain of Barça. “I’m going to give my all, trying to set a good example for the people and my colleagues.”
Impressions of current Barcelona
“I see him very well, with energy. A lot of quality, we played well. There is a very good atmosphere and I really want to be a part of that. I see them happy, playing with joy and free and you want to be part of that.”
Frenkie will debut shortly with German coach Hansi Flick at the helm, who does not ask anything special of him. “Let him give his maximum, 100%. Then when I come back we’ll see where I play, and if I play. That’s the coach’s stuff. I don’t know the position or anything, but in midfield. “I really like the way we are playing and I want to be part of it,” he concluded.
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