MADRID – Better late than never, it is often said when the least expected day and when the disappointment is widespread, that long-awaited player ends up catapulting, to appear one day, and two and three. To prove that yes, that, beyond its price, its proven quality is already visible in the field and its importance is as expected. Griezmann? No, the Frenchman is still waiting for him. The protagonist of such a happy takeoff is Frenkie de Jong. The happiest face of Barcelona.
In Vallecas he scored his fourth goal since starting in 2021 and showed, once again, his best version. The total midfielder who fell in love with Ajax and who quietly entered the Barça dressing room in the summer of 2020. So much was expected of him that his hesitant beginnings were an obvious frustration. Installed as an interior for Valverde, Very attached to the band, De Jong’s first season at Barça was more discreet than brilliant.
Without marking the difference to the orders of Valverde, being in not few parties almost invisible, its origin, its youth and its desire caused that the fan had with him much more patience than they enjoyed other soccer players registered like stars.
The Dutchman was expected to lead attacking football and not with Set he took this step forward, forming part of the final collapse and facing his second season as a Barça player as a revalidation.
FROM DOUBT TO CONFIRMATION
Koeman got on the bench and surprisingly changed the whole drawing, put him on Busquets ’side on the double pivot and things barely got better for him. Neither up nor down, staying in no man’s land, the first two months were the continuation of the nightmare … Until everything changed.
And De Jong catapulted heavenly. “He has a lot of quality to build from the back but he also had to give more to the team offensively. We talk about that, getting to the opposite area, finishing and scoring more goals,” he said in Vallecas on Wednesday. Ronald Koeman, Happy for the recovered figure of his compatriot and aware that his change of system, returning him to the position of interior with freedom, has probably been the best sporting decision of the coach.
From Jong to Ajax way it is now proclaimed in Barcelona. “I’m happy but I can play better” smiled the player after scoring his fourth goal since the start of the year, which he accompanies with two assists and a momentum in the game of the team that puts him back in the figure expected.
“We know his quality in this position and he is being more complete because despite helping Busquets to build from behind, his arrival in the rival area helps us a lot,” said the coach, noting this improvement. his best version in this recovered 4-3-3, freeing him from defensive tasks and giving him the opportunity both to connect more with the forwards and to reach the rival area from the second line.
Barça kicks off. He probably suffers more than is appropriate but smiles looking at his number 21. De Jong has taken the step and is already on his way to proving he was a key signing for the club’s future.
Griezmann, meanwhile, is still waiting.