Samuel Umtiti names Barcelona captain as ‘one of the best in the world’ | OneFootball

Former Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti has offered glowing praise for Frenkie de Jong, highlighting the Dutch midfielder’s versatility and personality as the qualities that truly set him apart. 

Speaking about his former teammate, Umtiti said that De Jong left a lasting impression on him during their time together at Barcelona.

Umtiti began by underlining De Jong’s all-round ability and tactical flexibility, something that has often defined the midfielder’s role in the Barcelona squad. 

Emphasising how complete De Jong is as a footballer, the Frenchman told DAZN (h/t FCB World), “Frenkie de Jong knows how to do everything.”

Nothing but praise for De Jong

He then went on to explain that De Jong’s value lies in his ability to adapt to different roles within the same system, but also stressed that this requires proper understanding from the coaching staff. 

Umtiti added: “You can put him in front of the defence, you can put him as a number 8… but you have to know how to use him.”

The admiration did not stop there. Reflecting on what it was like to train alongside De Jong on a daily basis, Umtiti shared a more personal insight into the midfielder’s quality behind the scenes. 

“When you live with him in training, you say to yourself: Wow,” he said.

Umtiti praised De Jong’s versatility. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Umtiti also highlighted De Jong’s mentality, particularly his courage on the ball during difficult phases for the team. 

At times when Barcelona struggled collectively, De Jong continued to take responsibility, something that clearly stood out to his teammates. 

“For me, he’s one of the best. He is a player who never hides. That’s what I loved about him, even in difficult times, he always made himself available to receive the ball and create play.”

To conclude his praise, Umtiti placed De Jong among the elite players he has shared the pitch with during his career. Summing up his assessment, he said, 

“He’s one of the best midfielders I’ve ever played with.”

The numbers back up Umtiti’s words, as the two players featured together in 32 matches for Barcelona, losing just seven of them. 

When both were on the field, the team averaged an impressive 2.22 points per game.