Frenkie de Jong is 'a more complete player' than when he was at Ajax

Frenkie de Jong is ‘a more complete player’ now than when he was at Ajax, insists Ronald Koeman after Dutchman scored his second goal in as many games to help Barcelona into the Copa del Rey quarter-finals

• Ronald Koeman says Frenkie de Jong is ‘more complete’ now than he was at Ajax
• The Barcelona midfielder scored the winner in the Copa del Rey win at Rayo
• It was his second goal in consecutive games and he’s starting to dictate matches
• De Jong was signed for £65m after a breakthrough season with Ajax in 2018-19 

Ronald Koeman believes Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong is a ‘more complete player’ now than when he signed from Ajax for £65million in 2019.

The Dutch midfielder has been instrumental in Barcelona’s last two wins, scoring two goals and providing one assist against Elche in LaLiga and Rayo Vallecano in the Copa del Rey.

His goal against Rayo on Wednesday night proved to be the winner in the cup tie and De Jong is finally starting to show why Barca paid such a huge fee for him after a breakthrough season with Ajax in 2018-19.

Ronald Koeman says Frenkie de Jong is a ‘more complete player’ now than when he was at Ajax

Koeman was delighted with his compatriot after De Jong scored the winner at Rayo Vallecano

Speaking after the game, Koeman hailed his compatriot’s offensive qualities and the decisive impact he is beginning to have on matches. 

‘We need him. We need the midfielders to be offensive,’ he said.

‘He has a lot of technical quality and he helps from deep.

‘We’ve spoken to him about helping out in attack and scoring more than one goal a season.

‘He’s a more complete player now than when he played for Ajax. He creates and scores more.’

De Jong, 23, has now scored five goals and provided four assists in 27 matches across all competitions so far this season.

De Jong is becoming more influential and now has five goals and four assists in 27 games

He was also involved in the first goal at Rayo as Lionel Messi made a goal-scoring return from suspension to guide Barca into the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey.

Second division Rayo took a surprise lead in the 63rd minute when Barca keeper Neto failed to deal with a low cross and midfielder Fran Garcia pounced to bundle the ball over the line.

Rayo went looking for a second goal and were badly caught out on the break when De Jong picked out Antoine Griezmann and the Frenchman laid the ball off for Messi to slot into the net from close range in the 70th minute. 

The Argentine, who became Barca’s record appearance maker in the competition with 76 Copa matches, was the architect of the second goal 10 minutes later.

He released Jordi Alba down the left wing with a sumptuous pass and De Jong finished off the defender’s cross to send the Catalans into the last eight. 

Share this article

Source: Read Full Article