Frenkie de Jong hails Lewandowski, insists he never wanted to leave Barcelona and still dreams of Champions League success | OneFootball

FC Barcelona will not be in action this week due to the November international break. However, fans will still get the chance to see several Blaugrana players representing their national teams.

One of the most anticipated encounters will be between the Netherlands and Poland, where Frenkie de Jong and Robert Lewandowski will face each other.

Speaking to the media ahead of that match, as Mundo Deportivo has reported, the Dutch midfielder praised his Barcelona teammate and reflected on his own commitment to the club:

“With Lewandowski back, our team is definitely better. The difference he makes is huge — everyone knows that. Robert has shown it for almost 15 or 20 years, always scoring goals. He’s a world-class striker.”

The midfielder also spoke about his recent contract renewal with Barcelona, explaining why he decided to extend his stay despite receiving offers from several top European clubs:

“There were always clubs that asked about me, but I was never open to leaving. Football is, of course, the most important thing, and I believe we have a team capable of competing for major titles. I feel valued and important.”

De Jong also revealed that his life off the pitch played a big role in his decision to stay in Catalonia:

“As a family, we live wonderfully there — we’re completely settled.”

Reflecting on his journey so far, the Dutchman described last season as his most successful period with the club:

“Last season was probably my best here — we won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup.”

He also discussed how he managed his renewal following an injury setback:

“I injured my ankle early last year and wanted to see how I recovered first. From a tactical standpoint, it’s not wise to renew when you’re on a decline. It’s better to do it when you’re performing well. But I always wanted to stay. When I signed my first contract with Barcelona, I hoped to play here for ten or twelve years — and it seems that might actually happen.”

Looking ahead, De Jong made it clear that he still has one major goal left to achieve:

“If you play for Barcelona for six or ten years, you have to win the Champions League at least once — so I still have work to do.”

He also joked about his national team coach Ronald Koeman’s success at the Catalan club:

“He’s one Champions League title ahead of me.”

Confident about the club’s future, the Dutch midfielder expressed optimism about Barcelona’s current project:

“Barcelona’s future looks bright too, considering the current team and the youth academy. Extending my contract made perfect sense. I’m happy here.”

De Jong went on to explain why the idea of moving to another league has never appealed to him:

“Do I have to go to the Premier League to prove my worth? I don’t think so. There were offers, but I’m happy at Barça. The Premier League is the best league right now, no doubt — just like La Liga was about ten years ago. But that doesn’t mean you need to play there to show you’re a great player. My dream since I was a kid was to play for Barcelona.”

He also reflected on his recent red card against Celta and the reaction from manager Hansi Flick:

“Obviously, I’m upset about missing the next match with the club because of the red card. He (Flick) said he was disappointed about my absence, but that makes me feel important — it’s another sign of trust.”

Finally, the Dutchman addressed the controversy surrounding the proposed Villarreal–Barcelona league match in Miami:

“I don’t think it was because of what I said, and I don’t really know why it didn’t happen — maybe because of the criticism. But in any case, it’s good for us not to have to travel.”