Marco van Basten harshly criticizes Barcelona midfield star after recent national team display | OneFootball

Yesterday was a significant day for FC Barcelona, as midfield star Frenkie de Jong put pen to paper on a new contract until 2029. The Dutchman is one of the team’s best players, and renewing him was of utmost importance.

Frenkie has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the world. Despite constant criticism coming his way, sometimes even from Barcelona fans, the Dutchman has looked undisturbed and gone from strength to strength.

However, his recent performance for the Netherlands drew sharp remarks from Dutch legend Marco van Basten, who accused Frenkie of playing what he called ‘postman football‘. Speaking in Ziggo Sport’s program Rondo (h/t Mundo Deportivo), Van Basten said:

“It was expected that Frenkie would speed up the game, but he didn’t. I found it disappointing. Frenkie’s role is to move the ball quickly from back to front, but he barely did that. It’s a shame because he has the vision and qualities to do so. Pedri plays faster and takes more risks in attack — that’s what’s expected of Frenkie.”

Van Basten went on to add:

“At Barcelona, De Jong is more productive, but with the national team, everything seems slower.”

Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images

For someone as legendary as Van Basten to make such a flippant comment screams of ignorance. A normal football fan might have this opinion, but for someone who has played the game at the highest level, it is not fair.

Frenkie’s strength is knowing when to slow the play and when to accelerate it. On the ball, he is right up there alongside Pedri. Just because one attempts ambitious passes, it does not diminish the contributions of the other.

Pedri cannot play the way he does without Frenkie by his side. The Spaniard plays with the assurance that the Dutchman is there to mop up and circulate the ball should there be a turnover. As the deepest midfielder, that is what the 28-year-old is expected to do.

If Marco van Basten wants to look at someone in the Dutch team with regard to ball progression, the onus should fall on Tijjani Reijnders or Ryan Gravenberch, who are given more freedom to roam than Frenkie. It is time to stop making the 28-year-old a scapegoat and to value him for what he actually brings to the table.