Former Netherlands international Wesley Sneijder has said that Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is not consistent enough to be relied on.
De Jong’s consistent presence in the Dutch national team and his significant role throughout his career have sparked a lively debate among the Dutch media.
The Barcelona midfielder is currently working hard to recover from an injury in time to compete in the upcoming European Championship and discussion about his performance has become more intense, especially within the football community.
This started soon after critical comments from former Ballon d’Or winner Ruud Gullit. Gullit expressed his disappointment, expecting more from a player who is now 27 years old and should be at his peak.
Wesley Sneijder, who previously played for Ajax, Real Madrid, and Inter Milan, also shared his thoughts on a television talk show called De Oranjezomer. He discussed what De Jong can and cannot bring to the team.
He pointed out that people shouldn’t expect De Jong to be the driving force of the team because he plays more as a number 6, which is a defensive midfield position, rather than a number 10, which is more attacking.
“You can’t expect Frenkie to pick up the ball from Virgil van Dijk, dribble past everyone all over the field and then shoot into the net or provide an assist, you just can’t expect that,” said Sneijder as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.
“[He] is not at all a ’10’, he is more of a ‘6’,” he added.
De Jong lacks consistency
Sneijder went on to say that de Jong hasn’t shown enough consistency in recent years. He recalled that while the midfielder had an amazing season with Ajax, in the past few seasons, de Jong has been frequently injured, and this has taken a toll on his performance.
“Frenkie has not been consistent enough in recent years,”
“Frenkie hasn’t been consistent enough in recent years. He had a fantastic year at Ajax, which earned him a ‘very nice’ transfer.
“If you look at the last few seasons, Frenkie has also been injured very often and that devours you,” explained Sneijder.
The critical opinions from both Gullit and Sneijder reflect a broader concern about de Jong’s impact on the national team.
Fans and pundits alike are questioning whether he can fulfil the high expectations placed on him, especially as he approaches what should be the prime years of his career.
The pressure is on for de Jong to not only recover quickly from his current injury but also to prove that he can be a key player for both his club and country.
