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Arguably the biggest news of the January transfer news is that FC Barcelona have splashed €75 million to secure the services of the Dutch prodigy, Frenkie De Jong. The 21-year-old wonder kid has been the center of attraction across Europe for some time, and the Catalan club will be delighted to secure his services.
De Jong is already being hailed as the next big thing across Europe due to his ability to dictate play on the pitch. Despite being a central midfielder, the young Dutch prodigy has scored 3 goals and 1 assist in the league this season..
Barcelona were desperate to secure the services of the Ajax wonder kid. The Catalan giants knew the caliber of the Dutch midfielder, and his inclusion from the next season will be a huge boost for them.
There is no doubt that De Jong will be a huge threat to the opposition if he keeps improving and honing his skill set.
Without further ado, let us evaluate why the transfer of De Jong to the Catalan giants is likely to be a massive success in the near future.
#1 Take the ball, pass the ball
De Jong is a product of the famed Ajax Academy, which is one of the finest in the world. Some of the world's greatest players of their generation, like Cruyff, Seedorf, Kluivert, Bergkamp, De Boer and more recently the Tottenham duo of Eriksen and Alderweireld, were the fruits of Ajax.
Barcelona and Ajax have shared a special relationship for decades, not just because of the quality of the players but also because of the philosophy and culture of the Dutch club. The players nurtured by Ajax embrace the philosophy of Barcelona more often than not, and De Jong is unlikely to be an exception.
De Jong is accustomed to the famous philosophy of 'pass and move', which is well depicted in his playing style. He will fit extremely well at Barcelona and gel very quickly with the squad due to his playing style.
#2 A long-term solution
After the departure of legendary midfielders like Xavi and Iniesta from the team, Barcelona longed for a player who could fill in the shoes of the irreplaceable duo. Barcelona brought midfielders like Ivan Rakitic, Turan and Arturo Vidal in, but they were miles behind and not a long-term fix despite their good service.
De Jong has all the ammunition to be the next big thing. His ability to sweep past opponents with his dribbling is sensational, but what sets him apart from other talented players is his maturity on the ball.
De Jong's decision-making - when to run past and when to release the ball - combined with his ability to pick out players in space makes him a dangerous threat to the opponents.
It is crystal clear that a player of his caliber will only prosper beside the likes of Arthur Melo, Sergio Busquets and Lionel Messi, among others. De Jong may not be experienced in the big stage at the club level, but he sure looks like a player who can adapt and handle the pressure well against high-profile opponents.
#3 Environment
The environment plays a key role when it comes to developing a player. For instance, modern greats like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo got the perfect environment under the perfect guide in Barcelona and Manchester United respectively during their initial years.
FC Barcelona remains one of the best clubs in the world. Pressure is obviously a part and parcel of the game here, but Barcelona is also one of the places that are perfect for the growth of player.
That was reportedly one of the reasons why De Jong chose Barcelona over other European giants like Manchester City and PSG. Despite the huge pressure which comes with playing there, the Camp Nou has proven to be a place where players can be nurtured.
Even a prodigy like De Jong needs the right environment to reach his full potential, which can be beneficial for both the player and the team. Moreover, the chance of winning silverware automatically increases by being in a club like Barcelona, and De Jong will surely cherish the opportunity.
