Joan Laporta names the one player in the current Barcelona squad who reminds him of Johan Cruyff | OneFootball

FC Barcelona are a squad blessed with players who are world-class in their own right. They are also a club with a rich heritage of legends who have worn the jersey, which naturally invites comparisons between the current team and that legacy.

Now, soon-to-be president Joan Laporta has named the one player in the current Barcelona squad who, in his eyes, still carries something of Johan Cruyff on the pitch. It is not a comparison made lightly, especially given what Cruyff means to this club.

As quoted by Mundo Deportivo, Laporta made the comment in Amsterdam during the world premiere of the documentary series Cruyff, held at the Johan Cruyff Arena as part of events marking 10 years since Cruyff’s death.

He said:

Those are huge words of praise for the Dutch maestro. There was a time when Frenkie’s future at the club seemed far from certain, but there is no doubt right now that he is one of the first names on the team sheet when fit.

Laporta is not saying Frenkie is Cruyff, because no one can really carry that weight, but he is pointing to qualities that supporters instantly recognise: calmness, elegance, intelligence in possession and a natural feel for how the game should flow.

It also says something about Frenkie’s standing at the club right now. That matters because Frenkie has often been judged through transfer talk, wages or tactical debates. Laporta’s words shift the focus back to something simpler: the style he brings when he is at his best.

Hansi Flick will be hoping to have a fully fit Frenkie after the international break. We will have to wait and see how things play out.