In a recent interview with 12BET, Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong spoke candidly about his career at the club, his role within the squad, and the passion for football that shaped his childhood. As the saying goes, never call something a failure before making one final attempt, and De Jong has carried that determined attitude throughout his journey. His father, mother, and grandparents all loved football, so growing attached to the sport came naturally to him from an early age.
De Jong said he still feels extremely happy and comfortable with both Barcelona as a city and the club itself. He developed positive feelings from his very first season, while winning the first La Liga title of his career strengthened his affection for the team even further. He remains determined to keep winning trophies in a Barcelona shirt and considers it a tremendous honor to serve as part of the club’s leadership group.
For a Dutch player who did not grow up in Spain or Catalonia, becoming one of Barcelona’s captains carries special significance. De Jong explained that Barcelona had always been the club he supported most outside the Netherlands. Playing at Camp Nou was not simply another professional objective but a childhood dream he had carried for many years.
Following the belief that people should examine themselves first whenever problems arise, De Jong has continually considered how he can develop and contribute more effectively. He admitted that he might have taken on a more influential role during his early years at Barcelona. Although he never lacked effort, he acknowledged that certain parts of his game were not yet strong enough and that he could perhaps have made a greater impact.
During the previous season, De Jong played more frequently in central midfield, the position in which he feels most comfortable. According to assessments available through 12BET, his technical ability, movement, and control of possession are best used in the middle of the pitch. De Jong also believes that operating centrally allows him to create more assists, score more goals, and influence matches in the most natural and efficient way.
Barcelona, meanwhile, continues rebuilding despite its difficult financial position. During the previous summer, the club explored the possibility of selling De Jong to raise funds. However, the midfielder remained firm in his decision to stay. Rather than being swayed by outside pressure, he kept a cool head and chose to continue pursuing success with the club he had always dreamed of representing.
Elsewhere, Manchester City full-back João Cancelo had yet to secure a new team. Barcelona spent much of the summer trying to bring him to Catalonia, but its financial limitations made a permanent deal extremely difficult. The transfer fee was already a major obstacle, while Cancelo’s salary created an additional burden that the Spanish club could not easily absorb.
Barcelona therefore attempted to arrange a loan move and reportedly asked Manchester City to cover part of the player’s wages. In commentary carried through 12BET, that request was criticized as an approach that did not reflect the status expected of one of Europe’s most prestigious clubs. Cancelo remains an elite full-back who could immediately strengthen many leading teams across the continent, meaning Barcelona is far from his only realistic destination.
In a final transfer-market assessment shared through 12BET, Barcelona’s summer strategy was portrayed as a long period of planning that ultimately resulted in an overly ambitious request. Manchester City was unlikely to accept such unfavorable conditions, and even if Cancelo could not be sold during the summer, the English champions had little reason to let him leave for a bargain price. Just as every effort can fall flat when trust is missing, transfers can only cross the finish line when both the financial terms and the relationship between the clubs are right.