Frenkie de Jong is with out doubt one of many most realistic midfielders in world football.
In an absorbing interview with Guillem Balague for BBC Radio 5 Are residing’s European Football Podcast, the 23-365 days-light Barcelona and Netherlands man talks about how sport can lead the fight against racism, returning to football after the coronavirus, studying from Lionel Messi and the musical inspiration in the attend of his title.
‘It would no longer topic what color you may per chance per chance per chance also very well be, every person appears to be like to be the same’
The tweet on the tip of Frenkie de Jong’s Twitter memoir is a poignant one.
He is pictured alongside world team-mate and Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, a unlit participant, with them retaining their arms out, along with the hashtag #stopracism.
The image used to be taken in November, nevertheless De Jong posted it yet again this week – amid world protests following the demise of an unarmed unlit American man, George Floyd, who died after a white police officer had his knee on the attend of his neck for near to nine minutes in Minneapolis.
“It makes you may per chance per chance per chance also very well be feeling essentially unhappy that there are mute issues enjoy this,” acknowledged De Jong. “I will be able to not factor in folks pondering this technique, it be essentially uncommon.
“In our dressing room now we personal avid gamers from South The US, Holland, Spain, in each residing in the arena and we’re coming collectively – the color of your pores and skin and the put you may per chance per chance per chance also very well be from would no longer topic.
“Sport can play a immense characteristic [in the fight against racism] as you may per chance per chance reach many folks.”
Describing his tweet, De Jong added: “In the week of the sport against Estonia there used to be an incident in Holland when folks personal been shouting [against a black player].
“We decided it may per chance per chance in point of fact per chance per chance be staunch to rating an announcement that every person’s the same. Georginio Wijnaldum and the staff decided we would scramble up with the arms to send a message.”
‘Lifestyles is no longer the most realistic way it extinct to be’
De Jong and his Barcelona team-mates returned to working in direction of in Could well per chance well also with La Liga put of residing to resume on 11 June following an absence of extra than three months due to the the coronavirus pandemic, with Spain one of many worldwide locations worst affected.
“I didn’t personal the virus nevertheless lifestyles is no longer the most realistic way it extinct to be,” acknowledged De Jong. “I rating no longer deem it be changed me as a particular person. I’ve spent numerous time with my female friend, we personal been in Holland and shall we scramble out – the anguish used to be somewhat extra pleased than in Spain.
“After we personal been working in direction of in separate groups we needed to reduction sooner than the others left, I could per chance per chance per chance no longer enlighten ‘hi there’ to them, that used to be essentially uncommon.
“Coaching is intense and per chance we’re greater than after we stopped. I’m feeling there is something particular coming.”
‘Whenever you occur to’d pick to love your lifestyles you may per chance per chance per chance like to play in Barcelona’
De Jong, who acknowledged the Frenkie fragment of his title came because his of us cherished 1980s band Frankie Goes to Hollywood, grew up in a limited Dutch village and joined Willem II after a trial length.
However it absolutely used to be no longer long sooner than he went to Ajax, worthwhile the Eredvisie and reaching the Champions League semi-finals final season sooner than he joined Barcelona in a £65m pass.
“It used to be my dream to play for Barcelona,” acknowledged De Jong, who had watched their video games whereas on holidays in Spain. “They personal been my accepted membership open air of the Netherlands. After they came and showed they personal been essentially they made the different less complicated.”
De Jong, who has played 15 times for the Dutch nationwide team, used to be needed by other clubs, collectively with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, Paris St-Germain and Juventus, sooner than a discuss over with from Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu helped seal the pass to Spain.
“Before all the pieces I didn’t personal the feeling Barcelona essentially needed me. However they acknowledged you are going to personal an proper likelihood of being a starter and it used to be essentially easy for me.
“He [Bartomeu] talked referring to the different clubs and Guardiola and acknowledged when he used to be at Barcelona he used to be fabulous. He acknowledged Guardiola used to be the ideal supervisor nevertheless urged me ‘in negate so that you just can like your lifestyles you may per chance per chance per chance like to play in Barcelona’.
“On occasion when I’m driving to the working in direction of ground you search the weather and there are these moments must you believe you studied ‘I continuously needed this as a kid, it be a dream’ – I’m essentially gay.”
Studying from Lionel
It in most cases is a a success first season in Spain as Barcelona are high of La Liga and in the Champions League final 16.
However, no longer all the pieces has long previous smoothly as coach Ernesto Valverde used to be sacked in January, regardless of them being high.
De Jong says he has needed to tweak his sport, nevertheless is studying from the ideal.
“In Ajax and the Dutch squad I’ve had a distinct characteristic nevertheless we’re taking part in with a double six [two defensive midfielders],” he added.
“I truly want to adapt and it be going OK, nevertheless I’m able to toughen. I’m at my most efficient when I’m no longer the most defensive nevertheless furthermore no longer the most attacking [midfielder].
“If Lionel Messi is talking and providing you with advice you prefer it as he is by a long way the ideal participant in the arena. If he affords advice, you hear. On occasion he says it be critical to be deeper or to the aspect, limited issues nevertheless it makes the disagreement.”