‘Cornered’ De Jong brings out the genius

Yes Frankie de Jong ultimately leaving for Manchester United or Chelsea in the two remaining weeks of August, we have to wonder why he didn’t compete in his first three seasons with the determination he has shown now that he feels like a replacement and is being invited by the club to leave. Against Rayo Vallecano he came on in the 60th minute for Gavi and completely changed the rhythm of the game by doing what his teammates couldn’t: breaking Rayo Vallecano’s neat line from the scholar Andoni Iraola.

The 25-year-old Dutch midfielder took the responsibility of dropping down to receive the ball when the team needed a beacon, he went one-on-one with his pair, even in one’s own fieldand he used his repertoire of quick and elegant driving to connect with the forwards, who achieved superiority that could not be converted into goals, but finally created confusion in the calm ranks of Rayo.

With a performance very similar to the one he had before Cougars in Gamper, he is also very aggressive at high pressure. If against the Mexican team he scored a goal after stealing the ball in attack and planting himself in front of the goalkeeper, last night he also created the best chance to Lewandowski when grabbing the ball from the rival defender. The Pole’s shot, unfortunately, missed by millimeters.

It seems that the feeling of being cornered by the club for financial reasons has freed the best Frankie de Jong, only saw the light on rare occasions. It’s all or nothing for him, he has nothing to lose or is forced to do something he doesn’t like. It may be too late for him to unleash the genius to stay, but in time to remind everyone that he has plenty of quality and class to succeed at Barça in Xavi Hernandez.