Frenkie de Jong has always been a favorite at Barça, but his path at the club has been complicated. Despite the expectations surrounding his transfer, his career in recent years has been marked by injuries that have kept him off the field. The latest of these losses was so hard that it even made the player himself question his future.
Frenkie De Jong's Return to the National Team
After several months out with a serious ankle injury, De Jong seemed to be moving away from the possibility of playing regularly. His return to the Dutch national team, under the direction of Koeman, was eagerly awaited by Barça.
In his statement, the midfielder didn't hide his excitement: "I'm very happy and I look forward to the future. It's been a long time since I played for the national team. It is a great honor and I'll always be happy to be here," he said.
However, his return hasn't been easy, as the after-effects of his injury still haunt him. De Jong was optimistic about what is to come: "Hopefully we can do great things, but I think we have to prove it first."
A Nightmare of Injuries
De Jong's ankle injury has caused him to miss a number of important matches, both for club and country. "It was difficult, it was a very painful injury," he admitted. Missing out on the European Championship was a tough blow for De Jong. He was unable to represent his country in one of the most important competitions.
Throughout his recovery, De Jong said he had even questioned whether he'd be able to overcome the obstacles. "I wondered if I would ever fully recover. That crossed my mind at times, but I always had the confidence that I would eventually be able to play soccer again."
The Desire to Return to Its Best Version
Now, with his recovery underway, Frenkie de Jong is confident that he can return to his best self. Although he doesn't currently play a prominent role in German coach Hansi Flick's plans, the Barcelona midfielder hasn't lost hope.
"I've started playing again. I'm getting back to 100% where I should be in terms of shape and fitness, so I feel good at the moment," he explained. The Dutchman sees himself ready to face the second half of the season with his mind set on recovering his best self.
An Uncertain Future at Barça
Despite his optimism and his return to the national team, Frenkie de Jong still doesn't know what the future holds for him at Barcelona.
Competition for a place in midfield is fierce, with other players such as Gavi, Pedri and Ilkay Gündogan fighting for minutes. De Jong's quality and potential are still evident, so his return could be crucial for Barça and the Dutch national team.