Numbers prove how €45m Barcelona star has helped improve the team in 2025 – Report | OneFootball

FC Barcelona have undoubtedly seen their form improve in 2025 so far. The Catalan giants have recovered well in La Liga and now find themselves back at the top of the table. By seizing their golden opportunity against Rayo Vallecano, Barcelona have found their way back.

However, this has only been made possible thanks to the efforts and improvements shown by the players as well. Hansi Flick’s men have been unstoppable this year, and that is thanks to the fact that the consistent performers are now being helped by those who have rekindled their best versions as well.

While players like Pedri have been consistently great all season long, others have now joined in the fight as well. One such case is that of Frenkie de Jong, the Dutch midfielder whose future at the club still remains full of uncertainties and new developments.

However, his performance on the pitch itself is now a guarantee for Hansi Flick it seems. Having found a revitalized version of himself this year, the €45 million-rated midfielder’s influence has helped Barcelona improve, and the numbers back that up.

As highlighted by Mundo Deportivo, the statistics show that the Barcelona captain has clearly improved in this second half of the season. Since the start of the new year, De Jong’s performances have clearly overshadowed his contributions from the first half of the campaign.

For instance, even in terms of minutes played, it is clear to see that he has won over Hansi Flick, albeit at the expense of a young Marc Casado. Since the beginning of the new year, De Jong has played a total of 792 minutes across 11 matches, and this involvement clearly eclipses the 423 minutes he played in 13 matches across the first half of the season.

His current playtime also means that he is the 8th most used player for Hansi Flick in 2025 so far. In comparison, his 423 minutes during the first half of the season meant he was ranked 17th in terms of total playtime in the squad.

Even his contributions on the field itself have clearly improved. During the first half of the season, he was averaging 67.2 ball actions per 90 minutes, a statistic that primarily included his passes and ball carries. Moreover, his total contributions, which included other statistics such as his dribbles, shots, crosses, duels, and recoveries as well, stood at 88.3 per 90 minutes.

Now, however, there is a significant improvement. In terms of ball actions, he is averaging 85.2 per 90 minutes. Furthermore, even his total contributions have now jumped from 88.3 per 90 minutes to 95.34. This clearly showcases a player who is much more involved in games and can help alter the course of matches better as well.