Roy Makaay is impressed by the development of Frenkie de Jong near Barcelona. The former top striker, who also played in the Spanish league and scored his goals for Deportivo La Coruña and Tenerife, thinks that the midfielder is a complete football player.
Since Ronald Koeman, the trainer of the Catalans, used De Jong in a more offensive role, he has been in the wind. “We already knew that Frenkie can play football,” says Makaay to De Cceit. “But now that hes going to score, hes getting more complete. And that makes Barça less dependent on Lionel Messi. That makes the team difficult to play against.”
According to the ex-striker from Wijchen, this can be written on Koemans account. “Let De Jong stand in this place. He also radiates real pleasure, which is beautiful to see. Just like his connection to Messi and the interaction within the team. Thats a big compliment to Ronald Koeman. He thinks he should find the goals more, especially if Messi has the ball. She puts it down ready anyway, and Koeman has seen it well.”
Makaay predicts that Barcelona will become a team that is very difficult to beat this season. “The setup is now better balanced. The puzzle pieces slowly fall together and certainly on the midfield, with the old controller Busquets and the young Pedri and Frenkie before. He was often accused of a lack of goals, but now hes going to score more.”