Frenkie de Jong says the attention and criticism surrounding him at Barcelona has become disproportionate, claiming there is “always more noise” about him than about some of his team-mates.
The 29-year-old midfielder made the comments after helping Barcelona beat Aston Villa 3-0 in the UEFA Champions League, a victory that also marked his 300th appearance for the Catalan club.
“I feel there is always more noise around me compared with others,” de Jong told Spanish newspaper Marca.
“There is always some noise surrounding me, especially when I am not there. For one reason or another, it happens during the summer when there are no matches, or when I am injured.”
De Jong has endured a period away from the team because of injury, while questions have also been raised about his form and his role in Barcelona’s line-up. He said he was now in excellent physical condition and had no remaining problems with his knee.
“I feel very good now and extremely strong. Is there noise around me? I have the feeling that people always talk more about me than about others, although perhaps that is simply how it feels when they are talking about me,” he said.
“These are things I do not have much influence over.”
The Netherlands international added: “I feel very good. I feel strong and excited, and I have great motivation. I do not feel any problem with my knee. What happened is in the past.”
De Jong joined Barcelona from Ajax Amsterdam in 2019 for 75 million euros. He has since made 300 appearances for the club, scoring 20 goals and providing 31 assists.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has occasionally used him at centre-back, but de Jong said midfield remained his preferred position while insisting he was willing to adapt to the team’s needs.
“I feel more comfortable in midfield, but I will help the team in any position where it needs me,” he said.
He also praised Barcelona’s victory over Aston Villa, who had won all of their previous matches in the competition. The result allowed Barcelona to maintain their perfect start to their UEFA Champions League campaign.
De Jong’s latest appearance therefore combined a significant personal milestone with a strong team performance, as Barcelona continued their progress in Europe and he sought to draw a line under the injury problems that had kept him out of action.
