Flick believes marginalised Barcelona captain has ‘enormous potential’ to turn things around | OneFootball

Frenkie de Jong has found himself from being a regular starter at FC Barcelona to becoming a peripheral figure this season.

The Dutchman has struggled to carve out a place for himself since returning from a lengthy injury layoff and finds himself behind the likes of Pedri, Gavi, Marc Casado, and Dani Olmo in the pecking order.

Given his reduced status and contract situation, speculations about his future are rife and last night’s Copa del Rey clash vs Real Betis was seen as somewhat of a last-chance salon for the Dutchman to keep himself relevant in Hansi Flick’s plans.

Hansi Flick still believes in De Jong

Now, according to Toni Juanmarti of SPORT, Flick still believes in De Jong’s enormous potential and is confident that, with restored motivation and rhythm, the midfielder can compete for a starting spot even as uncertainty looms large over his contract situation.

Frenkie de Jong’s role has been reduced at Barcelona. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

This comes after last night’s 5-1 win over Real Betis, where positioned at the base of the midfield, De Jong used his starting role to prove he can be a vital asset.

Playing with the game in front of him, the Dutchman facilitated ball progression, delivered precise passes, and worked tirelessly in defensive duties. He appeared comfortable initiating plays and even broke lines with his runs from deep.

In the second half, the former AFC Ajax star produced a high-quality assist for Lamine Yamal, but the goal was ruled out due to a marginal offside in the buildup.

While the match was relatively straightforward and not the ultimate test of De Jong’s capabilities, his strong 90-minute display could serve as the foundation for a resurgent run.

And with Flick still believing in his capabilities, the Netherlands international will likely get more opportunities in the coming matches to build on his foundation and re-establish himself as an important member of the team.