Barcelona midfielder is growing into an indispensable figure under Hansi Flick with every game

FC Barcelona have had a very mixed start to the 2025/26 season. Three La Liga games have come and gone and the team have recorded two wins and a draw. It is worth remembering that all three games have been away trips, even as the club continue to wait for a definitive return date to the Camp Nou.

One major concern that has plagued Flick's side so far has been their defensive line. The infamous 'high-line' that served them so well last season has come under a lot of scrutiny in these three games, with Barcelona conceding more chances than they would have liked. The team have Joan Garcia to thank for not conceding more.

Meanwhile, one player who is growing into an indispensable figure for Hansi Flick with every passing game is Frenkie de Jong. The Dutch midfield maestro missed the second game against Levante due to the birth of his child and his absence was felt. He was one of Barcelona's better players in the 1-1 draw against Rayo.

Frenkie and Pedri have formed an excellent partnership at the base of the midfield. The duo complement each other very well and bring the best out of each other's game. There is a certain sense of calmness on the ball that the duo bring and both of them have mastered the art of La Pausa.

Frenkie's ball-carrying is proving to be extremely critical, especially against most La Liga teams that sit in a deep block against Barcelona's attacking might. The Dutchman seems to know exactly when to play the ball forward and when to keep hold of it. His ball-carrying also helps break lines of pressure and open new avenues.

Against Rayo, in Barcelona's most recent game, stats from SofaScore show just how good Frenkie was, controlling the middle of the park. In 90-odd minutes that he spent on the pitch, the 28-year-old recorded 85 touches of the ball, completing 58 out of 64 attempted passes with a 91% accuracy. This included one key pass.

He won 9 out of 12 attempted ground duels, his only attempted aerial duel and was fouled twice. Both with and without the ball, Frenkie yet again showed that he deserved to be one of the first names on the team sheet for Hansi Flick.

There was a time last season when Frenkie's career at Barcelona looked all but over. The Dutchman had spent more than half a year out with an ankle injury and looked far from his best upon returning to action. Meanwhile, Marc Casado continued to grow from strength to strength.

However, like true warriors do, Frenkie dug in and kept fighting. He slowly yet surely started coming into his own in January 2025 and since then, it would be safe to say that he has established himself as the third most important player of this team behind Lamine Yamal and Pedri.

Barcelona fans' biggest criticism of Frenkie over the years has been his lack of awareness defensively. However, he has improved massively in this regard in the past few months. The Dutchman's positioning has improved manifold and this is arguably the most complete version of him one has witnessed in a Barcelona jersey.

Not all Barcelona fans have jumped on the Frenkie bandwagon yet but the important thing is that Hansi Flick seems to understand how important he is to the team. This is only likely to keep increasing through the course of the season.

Of course, one cannot conclude without addressing the elephant in the room. Frenkie is in the final year of his contract with the Catalan club, but has reiterated on more than one occasion his desire to sign a new deal at the club. The sooner it happens, the easier it becomes for fans to truly get behind and support him.

It has taken a few years, but Barcelona are finally getting returns on the investment they made in Frenkie. The future promises to be very bright, with the Dutchman in the team and let's wait and see how it plays out.