Former Barca director's crucial role in ensuring ace midfielder's move to FC Barcelona

Since his signing in July 2019, Frenkie de Jong has been one of the most consistent mainstays in FC Barcelona's setup. Although the last season had been a difficult one, full of injuries for the Dutch star, de Jong has had a staggering 215 appearances for the Blaugrana, showing his importance at the Catalan club. In that many games, the box-to-box midfielder, with his creative plays, has proven every penny of €75 million Barca spent on him.

Former Barca director's crucial role in ensuring ace midfielder's move to FC Barcelona

However, while things have gone spectacular in the player's Barcelona tenure, it wasn't initially planned that way earlier. Recently, Barca's former Sporting Director, Eric Abidal, made a shocking disclosure upon his intervention in de Jong's transfer to the Catalan club, which happened way back in 2019.

On the back of an extraordinary campaign with Dutch Giants Ajax, Frenkie de Jong had become one of the biggest transfer prospects in European football. While FC Barcelona was in the race for the star midfielder, still in search to fill the void left by club legend Iniesta's move, they weren't the favorites to sign de Jong. As per Abidal's recent disclosure of the scenario,

""After Ajax beat Real Madrid in the Champions League, many big clubs wanted Frenkie. He told me he was going to join PSG because their coach had spoken to him about it.""

- Eric Abidal

However, club legend Abidal's strong advice to the 22-year-old prodigy de Jong is what influenced him to join FC Barcelona instead. At the time of this transfer saga, Abidal stepped in crucially to ensure a better move for the talented box-to-box midfielder to the Blaugrana club. In Abidal's words,

""I told him that when you join Barça, it's the club as an institution that recruits you, not a coach.""

- Eric Abidal

This is what has ensured Frenkie de Jong's mavericks at FC Barcelona, which has been enough praised by the Blaugrana club. Had things gone the other way, it could have been altogether a different career trajectory for de Jong and for Barca as well. Even though FC Barcelona's current season has been brilliant, the club has been missing de Jong, who now seems nearing a full-fledged return.

While the player did have some crucial minutes against Young Boys in the UCL fixture and against Alaves in La Liga, he hasn't started a fixture this season. However, recent reports indicate that de Jong might be ready to start the next games for FC Barcelona, which could be a significant boost for the Blaugrana club's season ahead. Barca fans would hope that the player hits his best level soon, playing a crucial role in the club's quest for major titles this season.